DEFENCE

Biological Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the United Kingdom Government's policy is on the export of (a) bacillus anthracis, (b) clostridium botulinum, (c) histoplasma capsulatum, (d) brucella, (e) melitensis and (f) clostridium perfringens by other countries.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	The export of these biological materials is controlled by States' obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). They are, however, all materials that have a legitimate use in laboratories and facilities for the production of vaccines to protect against the diseases that may be caused by exposure to them. Their export, in small quantities consistent with legitimate medical and scientific research to established scientific institutions in states that are Party to the BTWC, is not banned under the Convention.
	The Government would expect all other countries to scrutinise any applications for such exports with the same rigour as we would for exports from the United Kingdom.

Boards of Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many boards of inquiry into deaths of military personnel have been established in each year since 1990.

Adam Ingram: Not all military deaths are subject to boards of inquiry. However, details of military deaths investigated by boards of inquiry or other investigations are as follows:
	
		
			  Royal Navy Army(1) RAF (2) 
		
		
			 1990 8 74 15 
			 1991 11 104 9 
			 1992 4 73 9 
			 1993 10 61 8 
			 1994 4 60 11 
			 1995 6 66 11 
			 1996 6 45 8 
			 1997 10 35 4 
			 1998 6 50 7 
			 1999 5 45 6 
			 2000 5 49 3 
			 2001 5 42 4 
			 2002 8 44 3 
			 Total 88 748 98 
		
	
	(1) Includes road accidents on duty and hostile action (not normally subject to Service investigation).
	(2) Includes Army, USAF and Italian military personnel killed in RAF aircraft accidents.

Communications

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training was made available for UK forces personnel on the Oscar communications system; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The three key elements of the Operations and Strategic Communications Architecture (OSCA) are Multiplexers, Exchanges and Military satellite terminals. Prior to deployment, personnel received training on all three of these elements. Training was conducted by a mixture of military and civilian courses, and was supplemented by having Subject Matter Expects (SMEs) available in theatre.

Defence Spending

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2003, Official Report, column 943W, on defence spending, what the limits are on the UK's ability to conduct unilateral national operations in pursuance of security objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 3.3 and 3.5 of the Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World (Cm 6041–1).

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department work in (a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire.

Ivor Caplin: The number of civilian and Service personnel working in the West Midlands and Staffordshire are detailed as follows:
	
		
			  West Midlands Government Office Region Staffordshire(3) 
		
		
			 Civilian Staff as at 1 November 2003(4) 4,790 (5)800 
			 Service personnel as at 1 July 2002(6) 6,740 1,080 
		
	
	(3) The Department does not hold information on staff based in the North Staffordshire area.
	(4) Figures are for permanent industrial and non-industrial staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliary, those on career breaks, long-term sick, secondments etc.
	(5) The civilian figure for Staffordshire is an approximation as the Department does not routinely publish data below Government Office Region level.
	(6) Figures are taken from Tri-Service Publication 10, last published in July 02.

Flying Hours

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current funded flying hours are for (a) Hercules, (b) Nimrod, (c) Chinook, (d) Sea King, (e) Puma, (f) Lynx, (g) Tornado F3, (h) Tornado GR4, (i) Harrier GR7, (j) Sea Harrier and (k) Jaguar aircraft of each type; and what amount of funded flying hours these aircraft had in each of the preceding three years.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows funded (that is planned) flying hours.
	
		
			  Financial year 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Hercules 36,709 36,709 37,458 37,458 
			 Nimrod 12,265 12,432 11,830 12,495 
			 Chinook 13,744 13,776 14,200 15,504 
			 Sea King 42,575 41,413 35,400 33,870 
			 Puma 13,550 15,210 14,400 14,857 
			 Lynx 49,150 40,100 36,500 36,075 
			 Tornado F3 26,136 24,193 23,022 25,468 
			 Tornado GR4 28,572 26,366 26,058 27,733 
			 Harrier GR7 15,379 15,282 14,809 14,783 
			 Sea Harrier 6,320 6,565 6,003 6,850 
			 Jaguar 12,215 12,543 12,996 12,446

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the Iraqi civilians killed in incidents which have been investigated since the end of the conflict by the Special Investigation Branch.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom Military Authorities in Iraq have investigated or are investigating the deaths of the following Iraqi Civilians, all of which are thought to have occurred since 1 May 2003:
	Ali Salaam Aziz Mohammed
	Dyab Rehman Nasser
	Rhadi Nama
	Ahmed Jabber Kareem
	Nadhem Abdulha
	Abd Al Jubba Mousa Ali
	Hazma Abdul Hussein Al-Askary
	Said Shabram
	Wael Jabber Raheem
	Jasim Yassim Jabbar Al-Shimillwy
	Waleed Fiay Mezban
	Baha Nasheem Mohammed
	Hassan Abbad Saied
	Hussan Said Shaba Al-Bata.
	Eight of these investigations have been completed. In three cases, the deaths were found to be as a result of road traffic accidents; in three cases it was found that troops had behaved in accordance with their Rules of Engagement and that there was no case to answer; in one case it was found that death had resulted from natural causes; and one case has been referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority to determine whether charges will be brought. Six of these investigations are on-going.
	An investigation is also being conducted into the death of Ather Karen Al-Mowafakia, which occurred prior to 1 May 2003.
	In addition, investigations have been conducted into an incident in which a member of UK armed forces and an Iraqi civilian (who has yet to be identified) died, and into a fatal traffic accident in which a Kuwaiti civilian died, the name of whom has been withheld by Iraqi police. Both of these incidents occurred before 1 May 2003. The first investigation is on-going; the second has concluded and determined that the incident was an accident.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 4 December, Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, if he will name the individuals whose deaths are being investigated; on what date each died; on what date each investigation began; and what stage each investigation has reached.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Date Of Incident Date Investigation Started Name of Iraqi Civilian Stage of Investigation 
		
		
			 8 May 2003 8 May 2003 Radhi Natna Investigation complete 
			 8 May 2003 11 May 2003 Ahmad Jabber Kareem Investigation ongoing 
			 17 May 2003 17 May 2003 Abd Al Jubba Mousa All Investigation ongoing 
			 24 May 2003 24 May 2003 Said Shabram Investigation ongoing 
			 2 Aug 2003 4 Aug 2003 Hassan Abbad Said Investigation ongoing 
			 14 Sep 2003 15 Sept 2003 Baha Nasheem Mohammed Investigation ongoing

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims have been submitted to the UK under section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17; how many of these claims (a) give rise to and (b) do not give rise to a legal liability to pay compensation under English law; how many (i) compensation payments and (ii) ex-gratia payments have been made; and what the (A) amount and (B) reason for the payments was in each case.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 January 2004
	A total of 588 claims for compensation have been submitted to the United Kingdom Authorities under section 6 of CPA Order Number 17. Of these, 13 have been transferred to other contingents/organisations, 226 have been repudiated, 57 have received payment, and the remainder are still under investigation. The following table summarises the compensation payments made to date:
	
		
			 Category Number of Cases Total Settlements (£) 
		
		
			 Fatalities 3 8,125 
			 Personal Injury 20 7,250 
			 Property Damage 7 34,243 
			 Road Traffic Accidents 27 22,606 
			 Total 57 72,224 
		
	
	Ex-Gratia Payments are not covered by Section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Number 17.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what strategy he is pursuing to (a) recover and (b) dispose of weaponry contaminated by depleted uranium in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 537W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total volume is of depleted uranium tipped weapons used in Iraq between March and May 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are no depleted uranium tipped weapons in UK service. However, UK forces in Iraq used a depleted uranium (DU) round in anti-armour operations. The round comprises an outer casing or "sabot" that surrounds a long rod penetrator made of DU, plus charge and igniter components. 1.9 tonnes of DU were expended by British Challenger tanks during the recent conflict in Iraq.

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the availability is of cluster bombs to United Kingdom forces in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: There are no cluster bombs held by UK forces in Iraq.

Manning Control

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to carry out manning control point reviews within the next 15–18 months.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently no plans to conduct any Manning Control Point reviews in the next 15–18 months.

Missile Defence Technology

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount spent by the Government on research into missile defence technology in each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: holding reply 10 December 2003
	Expenditure by the United Kingdom Government on research specific to Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) technology began in 1994–96 when the Pre-feasibility Programme was undertaken. This examined options, costs and timescales of BMD for the UK and its deployed forces at a cost of £2 million in Financial Year 1994–95 and £2.5 million in Financial Year 1995–96. An extension was completed in Financial Year 1997–98 at a cost of £300,000.
	As part of the Corporate Research programme, the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme (TRRAP) began in July 1998 following an SDR recommendation, focussing on BMD defence of deployed forces. TRRAP cost £2.2 million, £4.5 million, £5 million and £0.8 million in the Financial Years 1998–99 to 2001–02 respectively and completed in July 2001.
	Alongside and following TRRAP, a programme of BMD studies ran from Financial Year 1998–99 to Financial Year 2002–03 at a cost of £0.5 million pa. In Financial Years 2001–02 and 2002–03 two further programmes examined the longer-range threat at a cost of £1.2 million per annum and assessed the significance of any capability gap at a cost of £0.6 million per annum.
	In Financial Year 2001–02 research into theatre BMD building on TRRAP began at a recurring cost of £1 million per annum. Additionally in Financial Year 2003–04, £4 million will be expended on research through the Missile Defence Centre.
	In summary, expenditure in the 10 successive Financial Years since 1994–95 is set in the table below:
	
		£million
		
			 FinancialYear Pre-Feasability Programme TRRAP Longer Range Threat Capability Gap Work BMD Studies Missile Defence Centre Theatre BMD Total 
		
		
			 1994–95 2.0 - - - - - - 2.00 
			 1995–96 2.5 - - - - - - 2.5 
			 1996–97 .3 - - - - - - .3 
			 1997–98 - - - - - - - - 
			 1998–99 - 2.2 - - .5 - - 2.7 
			 1999–2000 - 4.5 - - .5 - - 5.00 
			 2000–01 - 5.00 - - .5 - - 5.5 
			 2001–02 - 0.8 1.2 .6 .5 - 1.0 4.1 
			 2002–03 - - 1.2 .6 .5 - 1.0 3.3 
			 2003–04 - - - - - 4.00 1.0 5.00

MOD Posts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) MOD civilian posts he estimates will be transferred to the private sector over the next three years from the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) Royal Air Force.

Adam Ingram: Officials are collating the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Network-centric Capabilities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2003, Official Report, columns 944–45W, on network-centric capabilities, what effect he expects the change of emphasis towards network-centric capabilities will have on the numbers of employees within the United Kingdom armed forces.

Geoff Hoon: At this stage, I have nothing further to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 17 December 2003, Official Report, columns 944–45W.

Northern Ireland

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons troops in Northern Ireland have been advised to avoid wearing (a) badges and (b) clothing which would indicate their support for the (i) Glasgow Rangers and (ii) Glasgow Celtic football clubs; and what representations have been made to him on this issue.

Adam Ingram: The Army's role in Northern Ireland is in support of the PSNI, which has taken steps to remove contentious emblems under the Patten reforms.
	The MOD advises Service personnel in Northern Ireland that the wearing of emblems and clothing including contentious football tops, which could be misconstrued as offensive, should be avoided. This is good practice and complies with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's Code of Practice which recommends that employers promote a good and harmonious working environment.
	I am not aware of any representations on this issue.

Nuclear Submarines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of Astute-class nuclear attack submarines available to the Royal Navy.

Adam Ingram: The Astute-Class of nuclear submarines will progressively supersede the existing Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes through a phased replacement programme. At present, the Ministry of Defence has a contract with BAE Systems for the design and build of the first three Astute-Class submarines. Decisions on the acquisition of further Astute submarines will be taken in due course. The MOD routinely considers changes to the future Defence programme to ensure that capability levels meet our anticipated requirements.

Permanent Secretary (Engagements)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the Permanent Secretary discussed allegations concerning Robert Lee International and BAE Systems with the chairman of BAE Systems.

Adam Ingram: The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence spoke to the Chairman of BAE Systems in May and June 2001 about allegations raised at the time concerning Robert Lee International. He also spoke to the Chairman of BAE Systems in September 2003, at the request of the Serious Fraud Office, in the light of the renewal of the allegations in the Press.

Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's procurement decisions have been the subject of judicial review since 1997.

Adam Ingram: None.

RAF Bicester

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy to (a) close and (b) dispose of the airfield at RAF Bicester.

Adam Ingram: As I announced in my letter to the hon. Member on 29 August 2003, the site is due to be vacated by military users later this year. The site will be disposed of on completion of the planning process that will ultimately determine its future use.

Reinstatement Committees

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training members of employment tribunals receive to enable them to sit on reinstatement committees.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The training of members of employment tribunals is a matter for the judiciary. The emphasis in training chairmen and lay members of employment tribunals is on the exercise of judicial skills—making findings of fact in accordance with the relevant legal principles and according parties a fair hearing. This applies whether dealing with the over 70 different jurisdictions covered by the employment tribunals or when constituted as a reinstatement committee.

PRIME MINISTER

Chechnya

Tom Brake: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) representations he has received from and (b) discussions he has had with Chechen President Akhmad Kadryov.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, I have not received any representations from, or had any discussions with, President Akhmad Kadyrov.

Fatalities (Government Obligations)

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what obligations are recognised by the Government as arising in cases where a person has died from a heart attack as a result of duress or harsh treatment inflicted by an agent of the state.

Tony Blair: Any such allegation would be investigated and appropriate action taken on the basis of that investigation.

Government Performance Audit

Michael Jack: To ask the Prime Minister whether a copy of the audit report on the performance of his Government, to be published on 16 January, will be placed in the Library.

Tony Blair: No. Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister when he was informed that the USA was intending to wage war on Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr. Allen) on 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 868W and on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 616W.

Rogue States

John Gummer: To ask the Prime Minister how he defines rogue states.

Tony Blair: The phrase "rogue state" is generally used to describe those believed to be engaged in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, or those which support terrorism and offer succour to those who commit terrorist acts.

Thames Gateway

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had in connection with the Thames Gateway Communities plans regarding (a) the Crossrail Project and (b) a new Thames road crossing;
	(2)  which Government Departments are involved in plans for the development of the Thames Gateway communities; and what commitments have been made.

Tony Blair: The Thames Gateway involves a number of Government Departments who are all represented in the Cabinet Committee on the Thames Gateway (MISC 22). Full membership and terms of reference of all Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet are available in the Library of the House.
	The Government's policy was set out in 'Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen in Thames Gateway' in July 2003, copies of which are available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. This set out a level of Government financial support, including £446 million of ODPM pump priming funding over three years, to enable the development of at least 120,000 new homes in the Gateway by 2016.
	The Department for Transport's recent announcements concerning the inclusion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services in the Integrated Kent franchise and PFI funding support for the Thames Gateway Bridge in East London demonstrate the Government's continuing support for investment in infrastructure in the Gateway.
	On Crossrail the Secretary of State for Transport has asked a review team to look at the proposals for Crossrail from Cross London Rail Links.
	I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects and will continue to do so. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of confidential discussions, under exemption 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

John Gummer: To ask the Prime Minister what common factor makes it permissible for the US, the UK, France, Israel, India, Pakistan and Russia to hold weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair: The UK is fully committed to the Treaties promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and supports their universalisation.
	The US, UK, France and Russia, together with China, are recognised by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as nuclear-weapon States, as defined in Article 9(3) of the Treaty. Under the terms of the treaty Israel, India and Pakistan cannot be recognised as nuclear weapons states. The UK regularly calls on these states to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states.
	The US, the UK, France, India, Pakistan and Russia are all States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). This Convention bans States Parties from producing, developing or stockpiling biological and toxin weapons. Israel has not acceded to the Convention, but is bound by the Geneva Protocol which prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons. The UK regularly calls on Israel to accede to the convention.
	The US, UK, France, India, Pakistan and Russia are all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which bans the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and requires the destruction of existing stockpiles. US, India and Russia have begun destruction of their chemical weapon stocks as required by the convention subject to close scrutiny by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Israel has been a signatory of the CWC since 1993, but has yet to ratify it. The UK regularly calls on Israel to ratify the convention and supports calls by the EU and the OPCW to encourage it to do so.

WALES

Wales-only Legislation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requests he has received from the Welsh Assembly Government for Wales only legislation to be included in (a) the current legislative programme and (b) the legislative programme for each of the last three years.

Don Touhig: The information is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Legislative programme 
		
		
			 2003–04 Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Bill Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill Tourism Accommodation (Registration) (Wales) Bill Transport (Wales) Bill Smoking in Public Places 
			 2002–03 NHS (Wales) Bill Common Land (Wales) Bill Sunday Licensing (Wales) Bill St. David's Day Bill Land Use Planning Bill Education Bill Audit (Wales) Bill Housing Ombudsman (Wales) Bill Passenger Transport Bill 
			 2001–02 Health and Well-Being (Wales) Bill Education (Wales) Bill St. David's Day Bill Census (Amendment) (Wales) Bill 
		
	
	No formal bids were made for the 2000–01 session as they would have needed to be submitted at a time when the Assembly had only just been constituted. However, informal discussions resulted in a bid being made for a Bill to extend the functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales.
	The Assembly Government also informed us of the Assembly's call for a Bill to ban smoking in public places.
	In most cases, the Government publishes Wales-only Bills in draft. The Assembly Government supports this and makes its bids in that context.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Small Arms Action Network

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds have been provided to the International Action Network on Small Arms in the past five years; and for what purpose.

Hilary Benn: The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) were awarded a grant for £1.1 million in October 2001 under the joint DFID/MOD/FCO Global Conflict Prevention Pool's (GCPP) Small Arms Strategy. To date they have received £997,059 and the full grant amount is due to be disbursed by April 2004.
	The purpose of the project is to develop regional NGO and civil society networks in order to increase political commitment, raise public awareness and co-ordinate global action to effect policy change in tackling small arms proliferation and misuse.

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan and its effect on (a) the provision of humanitarian aid and (b) national reconstruction.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Security in Afghanistan is one of the biggest challenges facing the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA), especially in the South and East of the country where Taliban insurgents continue to encroach. The recent bombings in Kandahar, which claimed 15 lives, and assassination of a French UNHCR worker in Ghazni, are unfortunate evidence of this.
	Threats to the safety of Afghan and international staff have meant that some NGOs and international organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to operate in some parts of the country. So far difficulties exist only in specific areas and organisations are doing an excellent job in working around these to continue providing assistance wherever possible. However, the overall effect on the provision of humanitarian aid and reconstruction is very serious.
	The international community is heavily involved in helping the ATA deal with these problems, by helping reform its army and police force and through further deployment of joint civil-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The international coalition continues to counter Taliban fighters in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan and the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has recently been expanded to allow it to operate beyond Kabul. Subject to provision of troops by contributing nations this will enable it to support the UN-led programme to disarm and demobilise former combatants and facilitate other parts of the Bonn Process including elections.

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many of the international secondments to Afghanistan from his Department in each of the last two years have been of women;
	(2)  how many international secondments of officials from his Department have been made to Afghanistan in each of the last two years; and if he will list their responsibilities.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2002, DFID seconded two officials, both women, to international organisations in Afghanistan. One was seconded through UNDP to work in the ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and the other was seconded to the office of the EU special representative in Afghanistan as his special Assistant. In addition we employed three UK staff in our Kabul office of which one was a women.
	In 2003, both female secondments remained in their posts for a period. A male official was seconded to the World Bank office in Kabul as a governance and institutional development specialist. In our Kabul office we employed five UK staff of which two were women.

African Union

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department has provided to the African Union since the expiry of the agreement in August 2003.

Hilary Benn: DFID fully supports the vision of the African Union, particularly its key role in peace and security across the continent. Since February 1999 DFID has given £1,089,745 to the Conflict Management Centre of the OAU/AU. This is distributed in three tranches: February 1999 to September 2000 (£311,812); June 2001 to August 2003 (£677,933) and October 2003 to March 2004 (£100,000). The last tranche is via the United Nations Development Programme and will be spent shortly.
	We have also been supporting an AU peacekeeping mission in Burundi bilaterally with £3.9 million to Mozambique as one of the troop contributing countries and we are about to release £2 million through the AU itself for the same mission.

Angola

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to the Government of Angola for preparations for the general election in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID's Country Engagement Paper (CEP) for Angola identifies the priorities for UK development assistance over the next three years. This includes support to the government and other stakeholders to prepare for the next general election. The date of the next general election in Angola has not yet been set however, with a possibility that it might be later than 2005.
	DFID are currently in discussion with the Angolan government and civil society as to the nature of that support. Possible areas include: reform of the constitution and electoral laws, voter and civic education, election-related conflict management and election monitoring. Another proposal is to fund Angolan parliamentarians to participate as observers in some of the elections that will take place in the SADC region during 2004 (Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia).

Bilateral Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to advance the target of an increase in the proportion of the Department's low-risk bilateral projects evaluated as successful.

Hilary Benn: DFID's 2003 Autumn Performance Report on progress against our Public Service Agreement, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House last month, reported that 80 per cent. of our low-risk projects are currently evaluated as completely or largely successful. Of the remaining 20 per cent., many of these are evaluated as achieving a number of their objectives. While this represents a high success rate, DFID is constantly seeking to improve the impact and value for money of all our interventions, including high, medium and low-risk projects.
	All projects are subject to an approval process in which their potential contribution to our corporate priorities is assessed. Once underway, projects are 'scored' annually to review progress towards achieving their objectives. Fuller reviews are undertaken midway through their duration and once they are completed. We also conduct wider evaluations of our portfolio's success and of the lessons we have learned. The performance of our portfolio, and progress against this target, is monitored every three months by DFID's Management Board. These processes allow us to address slippage and make judgments about how our resources should best be used.

Brazil

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 16 January 2004, Official Report, column 237W, on the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project, by how much the expenditure on the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project in Brazil will be reduced over the next two years; and what representations he has received on behalf of the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project in response to the reduction in United Kingdom funding.

Hilary Benn: We expect to spend £500,000 during 2004–05 and 2005–06 compared to £700,000 originally envisaged. As savings have been possible in the cost of expert advice (recruiting a Brazilian rather than an EU national) and German aid funds are able to meet the demand for demonstration funds, we will be able to deliver training and capacity building activities at a rate similar to that originally scheduled for these years.
	No representations have been made to either DFID's office in Brasilia or the British Embassy. DFID has, however, held discussions with the Brazil Cooperation Ministry to explain the reasons for the changes in expenditure. All project staff have been informed and are revising the project accordingly.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of cross-border humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people in Burma.

Hilary Benn: We know that some agencies provide cross-border assistance to internally displaced people in Burma, but we do not have reliable information on the total levels of this assistance. DFID does not fund cross-border assistance since we are unable to undertake monitoring and evaluation in these areas to ensure effective use of funds provided.
	We support the World Health Organisation's border health programme and the Burmese Border Consortium's effort to provide food aid to refugees along the border in Thailand, totalling £0.67 million in 2003–04. Internally displaced people are likely to be among the beneficiaries of DFID funding to tackle HIV/AIDS across Burma and basic health care programmes in two border states, towards which DFID is making a total contribution of £2.3 million in 2003–04.

Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been offered to the government of Burundi for the improvement of medical facilities for the delivery of new malaria treatments.

Hilary Benn: There has been no assistance to the Government of Burundi for the improvement of medical facilities for the delivery of new malaria treatments. However we are providing assistance through international NGOs and UN agencies, as are other donors, to cover urgent humanitarian needs. This includes funding for Medecins Sans Frontieres who have helped introduce the new malaria protocol. This year we are also providing funding of £250,000 to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the implementation of the new protocol. WHO will be working closely with the Government of Burundi.

Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on cholera levels in Burundi.

Hilary Benn: According to WHO, the last confirmed outbreak of cholera in Burundi was in 2002. Since then there have been no further reports of outbreaks.

Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made towards the rehousing of those left homeless by the storm in the Bubanza province of Burundi.

Hilary Benn: It is reported that on Sunday 4 January 500 people in Mpanda Commune in the northwestern province of Bubanza were made homeless by a storm which destroyed 102 houses and a primary school. DFID have not responded to this problem directly. We are however providing support to humanitarian work in Burundi amounting to £1.18 million so far this financial year.

Burundi

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit Burundi.

Hilary Benn: I have no plans to visit Burundi at the moment.

Burundi

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Burundi.

Hilary Benn: DFID closely monitors the humanitarian situation in Burundi through our office in Bujumbura, and through regular contact with NGOs and the UN. The UK takes a leading role in the donor support group in Burundi, the objective of which is to improve assessment, co-ordination and response.
	We concur with the recent UN assessment that the current major problems faced by Burundi are insecurity, disease and malnutrition. Life expectancy plummeted from 53.8 years in 1992 to 40.9 in 2001; there is just one doctor for every 100,000 people; the infant mortality rate for under-fives has nearly doubled from 100 per 1,000 in 1993 to 190 per 1,000 in 2001; and 69 per cent. of the population is under-nourished.
	The UK participated in last week's Burundi Partners' Forum jointly hosted by UNDP and the Government of Belgium in Brussels. The meeting was successful in mobilising commitments of over $1 billion in donor support over the period 2004 to 2006, as well as making progress in establishing a simple co-ordinated framework to make more effective use of the donor funds being made available.

Chad

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response his Department will make to the appeal of the World Food Programme for Sudanese refugees in Chad.

Hilary Benn: DFID is contributing to efforts to address the humanitarian needs of Sudanese refugees in Chad. We made a contribution of £1 million to the United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in December, towards the Emergency Needs budget of their Supplementary Appeal for Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad.
	We are continuing to monitor the situation and may make further contributions if the situation indicates this is necessary. This may involve a contribution to the WFP appeal if there is a need for additional food aid.
	The cause of the movement of refugees from Sudan into Chad is the fighting in Darfur, in western Sudan. We reiterate our deep concern at the continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from this conflict and call on all those involved to address the problems in Darfur through dialogue, to establish and maintain a ceasefire with independent monitoring and to allow unfettered humanitarian access to those in need. The UK has already contributed over £4 million to the relief effort (including to the UNHCR) and remains willing to use its good offices in any way possible to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Child Soldiers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent of the use of child soldiers in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Burundi, (c) Rwanda and (d) Uganda.

Hilary Benn: The UK condemns unequivocally the use of child soldiers. The fourth report of the UN Secretary-General on the use of children in armed conflict has recently been issued and will inform debate on this issue in the UN Security Council later this month.
	The UK discusses the issue with a range of UN bodies, particularly the Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, and works with the UN system to eradicate the use of child soldiers, including our support for a UNICEF programme of capacity building to strengthen its response in emergency situations. A key element of this programme is improving its advocacy on the situation of children affected by armed conflict at all levels.
	For DRC the UK is providing £750,000 to help establish child protection networks, and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) mechanisms in each province and at national level. Our support will help UNICEF in launching preparations and commencing activities for the demobilisation and reintegration of children associated with armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	UNICEF reported in September 2003 that it was thought there were then about 1,000 child soldiers serving in Burundi's regular army, 1,500 in the pro-government youth militia and 500 in the rebel movements, though the exact number would only be available when the demobilisation programme was implemented.
	Burundi ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, though the optional protocol banning the use of children under 18 in armed conflict was not signed at that time—the text of this has recently been submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
	In Rwanda the UK is supporting research that is being undertaken by Save the Children to determine why more girl child soldiers from the ex-armed groups in the DRC are not presenting themselves for demobilisation and repatriation to Rwanda.With respect to Uganda, one of the terrible features of the conflict there is that abducted children themselves become the combatants. We have raised our concerns about the safety of those abducted with President Museveni and senior Ministers. The UK has provided financial support to UNICEF and Save the Children to rehabilitate children who have escaped from the Lords Resistance Army. Also we have discussed with the Ugandan government reports of under-age soldiers being recruited by the government defence units in the North. The Government of Uganda has assured us that they are co-operating with UNICEF to identify and demobilise the recruits. Our High Commission in Kampala is monitoring the situation.

Debt Relief

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many countries he expects to reach completion point for the purposes of debt relief by the end of 2004.

Hilary Benn: Of the 27 countries that have qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, nine have so far reached completion point and have received an irrevocable reduction in their stock of debt. A further 10 are expected to reach completion point by the end of 2004. Three of these (Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Niger) should reach completion point imminently.
	Nevertheless, it is difficult to predict exactly when countries will reach completion point, because, instead of a fixed completion point date, the enhanced HIPC Initiative system is based on a 'floating' completion point. But even where countries miss their predicted completion point date, there is no delay to the delivery of debt relief, as countries cease to make payments on their debt from decision point.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention in Ituri.

Hilary Benn: We have regular discussions with the UN's agencies including OCHA, and consider the humanitarian response to the crisis in Ituri to have been effective to date. The humanitarian situation there has improved as a result of services such as food aid, emergency medical assistance, provision of potable water and increased sanitation facilities delivered by the relief agencies, and the UN has been able to negotiate increased access in the area for relief work.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the most recent discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda concerning their involvement in the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: The UK is seeking to help resolve conflict and establish conditions for genuine development in the whole of the Great Lakes region. We have maintained a close dialogue with the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, and indeed with the former Government and now the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa, on the need for good neighbourly relations as the basis for national and regional stability. We continue to do so. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will undoubtedly be discussed during the forthcoming visit to the UK of Presidents Kagame and Museveni.
	Both Rwanda and Uganda have taken positive steps recently to normalise their relations with the TNG in DRC, including mutual ministerial visits and the signing in New York on 25 September 2003 of a Good Neighbourly Pact, which included commitments that all support for armed groups should end and that there should be no illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many monitors and overseers the United Kingdom will send to witness and report on whether the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are (a) free and (b) fair.

Hilary Benn: The Transitional National Government (TNG) of the DRC has not set a specific date for elections, likely to be either in 2005 or 2006; nor has it invited partners to send election monitors. Should it do so, it is likely we will participate in wider EU or UN efforts.
	Helping the TNG and other stakeholders prepare for free and fair elections is an important part of our engagement in DRC. We are providing £400,000 for the Electoral Institute of South Africa (EISA), an NGO, to help enhance the capacity of stakeholders to participate in the process of designing the DRC's institutional, constitutional and legal frameworks, including for a democratic electoral system.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he will (a) take unilaterally and (b) propose at multilateral level in response to the publication of the UN Commission report on the misuse of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Buckingham to the Statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris Mullin) on 17 December 2003, Official Report, Column 142–4WS.
	We continue to urge the UN to provide the detailed information necessary to substantiate the allegations against British companies. We have urged NGOs to do the same.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with (a) his counterparts in EU member states and (b) representatives of the United Nations about the report of the UN Panel of Experts on illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: None. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are the lead Department responsible for discussions on the UN Panel of Experts Report with counterparts in EU Member States and representatives of the United Nations.
	The issue of exploitation of the natural resources of the DRC is enormously important. We are already working with the new government in the Congo and with international and regional partners to help develop its institutions and to put in place effective management of the country's natural resources, including by playing a leading role in making the Anti-Corruption Commission effective and encouraging the Transitional National Government to engage in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
	The huge potential of the Congo's natural resources should be exploited legally and in a regulated way, for the benefit of all Congolese. We want to see trade in natural resources become a cohesive factor in regional stability and not a cause of conflict.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on Ethiopia's debt burden.

Hilary Benn: Ethiopia qualified for debt relief under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative in November 2001 when it reached decision point—the first stage of the HIPC process. This means Ethiopia no longer has to service around $1.9 billion of debt. These debts will be formally written off when Ethiopia reaches its completion point as expected in the first half of 2004.
	Ethiopia owes the UK £15.4 million but is already receiving full debt relief on this under the UK Government's bilateral policy. This provides 100 per cent. relief on debt service payments starting from decision point and formally writes off the entire debt after completion point.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the joint departmental scoping mission scheduled for April 2004 to consider reform of Ethiopia's security sector.

Hilary Benn: The joint departmental scoping mission for Security Sector Reform (SSR) comprising representatives of MOD, FCO and DFID visited Ethiopia in April 2003 in response to requests from the Government of Ethiopia. The mission recommended a phased engagement by HMG that would help make all parts of the security sector more accountable to the people of Ethiopia. Initial activities to strengthen bodies responsible for oversight and planning are about to begin.
	We welcome the Government's recognition that reform of the security sector will enhance its capacity to fulfil constitutional obligations in respect of human rights.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how financial support from his Department to Ethiopia has been tailored to tackle the increase in global acute malnutrition that has occurred in some of the drought affected areas of Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: Since the start of 2002 we have committed over £50 million of humanitarian aid to Ethiopia making us one of the largest donors of emergency assistance. This has been channelled through UN agencies, the Ethiopian Government and non-government organisations (NGOs).
	A mix of interventions successfully helped to address global acute malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the drought-affected parts of the country. For example, we targeted localities suffering high levels of malnutrition with supplementary and therapeutic feeding through NGOs and UNICEF. This helped bring GAM levels in the most affected areas down to about 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. from over 20 per cent. at the peak of the crisis.
	Some pockets of malnutrition remain in 2004 largely as a consequence of poor targeting and delivery capacity. We are providing support to UNICEF for building capacity of the emergency system and will continue to play our part as and when further needs arise.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of ethnic violence in Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: There is still a high level of ethnic violence in Ethiopia. Ethnicity is the basis of most of the major political parties, including the ruling party. Many ethnic groups are politically and economically excluded.
	Ethnic tension has led to fighting in Gambella (West Ethiopia) in December 2003. Up to 150 people may have died.
	New legislation passed in 2003 will allow Federal Government to intervene in cases of human rights violations at Regional level and below. This indicates a growing willingness by Federal Government to accept ultimate responsibility for human rights violations at Regional or local level.
	We take human rights very seriously and will continue to promote improvements through high level political dialogue, budget support indicators and support to security sector reform.

EU Aid Target

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost will be to public funds of the UK achieving the agreed EU target of aid amounting to 0.39 per cent.of GNI.

Hilary Benn: Under current spending plans we expect official development assistance (oda) to exceed the EU target and hit 0.4 per cent. of GNI in 2005, a year earlier than the target date. The cost of achieving 0.4 per cent. in 2005, including that part of oda which is not financed through the DFID budget, is estimated to be £4.9 billion.

Euro

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 517W.

Global Interventions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has made formal representations to the United Nations about his proposal for global intervention in countries whose Governments abuse their populations, made in his speech on 30 October 2003 at the UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development; and what criteria would be used for such global interventions.

Hilary Benn: No formal representations have been made to the United Nations concerning intervention in countries with humanitarian crises. The Department for International Development is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to contribute to the debate on UN reform. The High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change appointed by Kofi Annan has an important opportunity to make proposals for a more effective UN response in this area. The UK supports reform that will ensure that the UN Security Council assumes its full responsibility to guarantee peace and security. We cannot allow a repeat of the mistakes made in Rwanda in 1994.
	Framing acceptable principles for intervention, so that people are protected effectively, and so that states are treated equally, is part of the challenge presently facing the United Nations. An important attempt to develop common ground on principles and criteria for intervention was made in the report of the Canadian-sponsored International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS). We welcomed the commission's report, The Responsibility to Protect, which was published in December 2001. It attempts to move the debate from an unproductive discussion of intervention towards a new focus on the responsibilities held by states to protect their own citizens from avoidable catastrophes from mass murder, rape and from starvation. When states are unwilling or unable to fulfil their responsibilities, it argues that the responsibility to protect should be borne by a broader community of states. It also stresses that the responsibility to prevent conflict is as important as the responsibility to react, and that any intervention is accompanied by a responsibility to rebuild.

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the working paper from the International Monetary Fund on the effect of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative upon Africa's poorest nations.

Hilary Benn: On 1 September 2003, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a working paper entitled "Fiscal Sustainability in African HIPC Countries: A Policy Dilemma?" The paper focuses on the link between fiscal policy and debt sustainability. The authors concluded that, without more international assistance in the form of grants or private non-debt financing (such as foreign direct investment), Governments would need to raise taxes or scale down social spending programmes in order to maintain sustainable fiscal positions in the face of possible adverse shocks. The authors noted that the paper's conclusions were sensitive to assumptions on growth rate, interest rate, and exchange rate dynamics.
	This problem has already been recognised by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the UK is pressing for additional relief at HIPC Completion Point, where necessary, to ensure that countries have sustainable external debt levels. On longer-term debt sustainability, the UK welcomes the report being prepared by the World Bank and IMF on ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, including HIPCs, while enabling them to access sufficient finance for their poverty reduction strategies. We hope to reach agreement on the appropriate policy response at the spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF in April.
	We also recognise that, in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals, an additional US$50 billion a year until 2015 is required from the international community. That is why the UK's proposal for an International Finance Facility is so important. It could provide the much-needed substantial increase in resources that debt relief alone would not achieve.

HIV/AIDS

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is providing to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS in (a) India and (b) China.

Hilary Benn: DFID India is supporting the Government of India's National AIDS Control Programme through the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) with a commitment of £123 million over a period of five years. The main approach of the programme is to support innovative, targeted work with highly vulnerable sections of the community in the various states of India. Our partners in this programme are World Bank and the US Agency for International Development. The programme includes support to UNAIDS for effective implementation of its HIV strategy in India and BBC-World Service Trust for media campaigns to raise awareness in the general public.
	The communities covered under the programme include sex workers, their clients, street children, men who have sex with men, industrial workers and injecting drug users. For example, in West Bengal one of DFID's focus states, our work to date have covered more than one hundred thousand people through 17 NGOs in 52 sites.
	DFID China is working in partnership with the Government to tackle and combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. DFID currently supports a £20 million HIV/AIDS initiative, which pilots replicable models of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in Yunnan and Sichuan for high risk and vulnerable groups. This project aims to inform and develop national policy and good practice on HIV/AIDS. In addition, DFID will provide £5 million to assist the Government of China in developing its strategic capacity to deliver an effective and co-ordinated response to HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress in Africa towards a reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV from 16 per cent.

Hilary Benn: UNAIDS will publish global HIV/AIDS figures this year, which will allow for a proper assessment of the progress towards this target. The Department for International Development will report on this in its next Departmental Report in 2004.
	Meanwhile, the latest "AIDS Epidemic Update", published by UNAIDS in December 2003, reports that HIV prevalence in pregnant women in selected urban areas seems to show the following trajectories in recent years (UNAIDS "AIDS Epidemic Update", December 2003):
	Increasing: Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Cameroon Stable: Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, DRC, Senegal Declining: Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda.
	The update concludes that we are not witnessing a decline in sub-Saharan Africa's epidemic. Significant challenges remain to arrest the epidemic and meet the target to reduce the proportion of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS.
	DFID has HIV/AIDS activities in most of our 16 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of DFID's interventions support National AIDS Councils and help to integrate efforts to address HIV/AIDS into a range of other sectors. In addition to direct HIV/AIDS activities, in an increasing number of countries significant, indirect support for addressing HIV/AIDS is being provided through budget support.
	DFID has also invested £1.5 billion in supporting health systems since 1997. We are working with partners to improve maternal and child health and reduce the impact of HIV and other major communicable diseases.
	The recently published "UK Call for Action on HIV/AIDS" (copy enclosed), makes clear our own commitment to significantly increase our efforts to address HIV/AIDS and poverty.
	We will make reducing the vulnerability of poor people to HIV and to the impact of AIDS a priority for the extra resources the UK will be devoting to Africa by 2006. All DFID Africa country offices are currently considering what needs to be done, by those countries, to enhance their HIV/AIDS programmes, and how the UK and others can best help them, including through additional financial contributions.
	The Government will also make HIV/AIDS—and Africa—a centrepiece of our presidencies of the G8 and the EU in 2005.

Human Rights (Sudan/Burma)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with representatives of Amnesty International about the level and nature of human rights abuses in (a) Sudan and (b) Burma.

Chris Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
	I discussed human rights in Sudan with the Director of Amnesty International UK on 11 December 2003. We are in regular contact with Amnesty International on human rights issues in Burma. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials last spoke to Amnesty International on 15 January about their recent visit to Burma.

Infant Mortality Reduction

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further action he proposes to take to help to achieve the goal in Africa of a reduction in under-five mortality rates for girls and boys from 158 per 1,000 live births to 139.

Hilary Benn: While some African countries have successfully reduced child mortality since 1990, in others it has changed little, and some African countries have experienced a rise in child mortality since 1990. It is generally accepted that a significant change will be needed if the target to reduce under-five mortality rates by two thirds by 2015 is to be achieved. Challenges include: the HIV/AIDS epidemic; economic decline and persistent poverty; inequality; under-resourced and poorly functioning health systems; and lack of progress in reducing the number of deaths of newborn babies.
	DFID supports child health through wider work on strengthening health systems. We are actively supporting health sector development in 10 African countries, including working with partners to strengthen policy and action on child health. The UK will also continue to contribute to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and Roll Back Malaria, which have helped revitalise interest in childhood diseases and substantially increased the resources directed to child health. We shall continue to support implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Initiative with partners from the United Nations International Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development. This initiative is building the quality and quantity of child health care at country level throughout Africa. The UK is also part of the recently inaugurated High Level Forum on Health which plans to address systemic challenges to achieving the health related Millennium Development Goals.
	In a range of countries we also have specific investments in sectors that contribute to reducing child mortality, for example in water and sanitation and in education. The UK's broader development efforts to enhance economic growth and address inequity, conflict, civil unrest, child rights and food insecurity can also be expected to have a positive impact on child health outcomes.
	At all levels of our engagement with African partners, we shall be increasingly explicit that affordable and sustainable child health outcomes need greater priority in poverty reduction strategies, especially in those countries with high child mortality.

Infant Mortality Reduction

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 39 per cent. to 57 per cent. in key countries in Asia, with particular reference to Bangladesh and Pakistan;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a reduction in under five mortality rates for girls and boys from 92 per 1,000 live births to 68 per 1,000 in four key countries in Asia, with particular reference to India;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school from 87 per cent. to 94 per cent. in four key countries in Asia, with particular reference to (a) Pakistan and (b) India;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in gross primary school enrolment from 95 per cent. to 100 per cent. in four key countries in Asia;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 15 per cent. to 10 per cent. in East Asia and the Pacific;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 40 per cent. to 32 per cent. in South Asia.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's Autumn Performance Report (APR), which is available in the House of Commons Library, reports on progress towards all of Asia's Public Service Agreement (PSA) indicators. The APR also explains what action we are taking regarding off-track indicators. The following additional detail covers the country-specific issues.
	China and India have made progress in increasing the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants, but Bangladesh and Pakistan show little progress so far.
	In Bangladesh, DFID is currently supporting the Government's national plan for maternal mortality reduction. We are considering what else we can do to help Bangladesh to make speedier progress, which might include giving earmarked funding to accelerate maternal mortality reduction or an increased budgetary allocation for this purpose. In Pakistan, where progress has also been slow, DFID is developing proposals for substantial support for accelerated actions to improve maternal and neonatal health.
	There has been little improvement so far in reducing child mortality in India. To help respond to this challenge, DFID is supporting the design of the Government of India's Reproductive and Child Health Programme for 2004–08, which encompasses child mortality reduction. We intend to make a significant financial contribution in support of this programme.
	The ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school has improved in Bangladesh and China but in Pakistan and India, considerable progress is still needed. The Pakistan Government, in their recent Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, expressed a commitment to provide education for all through improved access to primary education. We and the other major donors support this commitment. DFID's current education programme promotes progress towards universal primary education and we plan to expand this support over the coming year. In India, which has made some progress, we are continuing to support the District Primary Education Projects in our partner states of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. An integral part of this programme is the promotion of girls' education through a range of special initiatives and incentives. Enrolment, retention and completion rates of girls continue to steadily improve. We are also supporting the Lok Jumbish education programme in Rajasthan, which places significant emphasis on girls education. Emphasis on girls' education is also central in the new national strategy for universal elementary education, which DFID is planning to support with the WB and EC.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many sniffer dogs in the United Kingdom were ineligible to accompany search and rescue teams to Iran on account of quarantine regulations.

Hilary Benn: There are 12 collapsed structure search and rescue dogs that are registered with the National Search and Rescue dog group. None were ineligible to accompany the rescue teams to Iran. However, seven had only recently completed quarantine following the earthquake response to Algeria last May and their owners felt it was not appropriate to subject them to another spell of quarantine so soon after that mission.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many sniffer dogs accompanied the search and rescue specialists who went from the United Kingdom to Iran on 27 December 2003.

Hilary Benn: Four dogs sent from the UK took part in the search and rescue operations in Iran.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what briefing he has received from the heads of the UK search and rescue teams in Iran since their return to this country.

Hilary Benn: DFID officials have been in regular contact with team leaders since their return from Iran. There will be a formal debrief meeting, as is standard practice on Wednesday 21 January.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the people described in his written ministerial statement of 5 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1–4WS, as having been evacuated to receive tertiary care in Iran have now received that care.

Hilary Benn: According to latest reports from the Head of the Disaster National taskforce an estimate of 12,500 people were evacuated by air from Bam to other centres in Iran. All casualties have been treated.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest estimate is of the number of city officials in Bam who were killed during the recent earthquake.

Hilary Benn: The latest official Iranian Government figures estimate that 30,000 people lost their lives of which a proportion were city officials. Specific details of city officials killed has not been released. Meanwhile the Iranian authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent Society tracing department are continuing their assessment of missing persons.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of unsolicited items provided by UK nationals to assist with shelter for people made homeless by the earthquake in Iran.

Hilary Benn: The Iranian embassy has expressed its gratitude for the tremendous response by the British public to the tragic situation in Iran. We cannot however, estimate the quantity of the unsolicited items they have been offered.

Iranian Earthquake

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the people who suffered injuries in the earthquake in Iran have been (a) hospitalised and (b) treated.

Hilary Benn: The latest official Iranian Government figures give an estimate of 30,000 casualties that suffered injuries. Some of 12,500 people sustained severe injuries and were evacuated to other centres in Iran for treatment. The Iranian Red Crescent set up an extensive mobilised medical field hospital with four additional field hospitals set up by the Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Azerbaijan and Japan.

Iraq

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the humanitarian projects that the UK has (a) completed and (b) not yet completed in Iraq since 1 May 2003.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) on 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 238W.

Iraq

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's estimate is of the average (a) level of supply and (b) number of hours per day of supply of water to the population of (i) Baghdad and (ii) Basra (A) before the start of the recent conflict and (B) since the conclusion of the recent conflict.

Hilary Benn: Statistics in the precise form requested are not available.
	Until the 1991 Gulf War, safe water was available to over 95 per cent. of the urban and 75 per cent. of the rural populations of Iraq. By 2000, coverage had dropped to 92 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively. The deterioration of the system was disproportionately great in the south, including Basra, as a result of the discriminatory policies of the former regime.
	It is estimated that as a result of the 2003 conflict and subsequent looting, water supply deteriorated by up to 50 per cent. in some governorates. Estimates suggest that the water supply network as a whole is now operating at about 65 per cent. of pre-war levels. However, significant efforts are being made to improve this situation.
	In Baghdad, compact water treatment units and sewage pumping stations have been rehabilitated and additional units are being installed. Measures have also been taken to provide security at water treatment plants to prevent further looting. Hundreds of critical breaks in the water network have been repaired, increasing flow by 2 million litres per day. New construction is taking place at Baghdad's Sharkh Dijlah plant, which will add 40 per cent., or 2.25 million litres per day, to the water supply of eastern Baghdad by May 2004, benefiting 640,000 residents.
	In Basra, rehabilitation work has already restored the water supply to pre-conflict levels. By spring 2004, the volume of fully treated water supplied to the city is expected to surpass the pre-war level of partially treated water. By the summer of 2004, the rehabilitation of the Sweet Water Canal, which supplies water to Basra, will have been completed, further benefiting 1.75 million residents.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will arrange for discussions with the Iraqi Provisional Authority about the supply in that country of safe, legal abortion services; whether his Department is prepared to contribute funding specifically for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID's main support to the health sector in Iraq is provided through the World Health Organisation (WHO). As part of their programme of work, WHO are holding regular discussions with the Iraqi authorities about the provision of all health services in the country, including family planning services. DFID has no plans to provide direct bilateral support for assistance in this area.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of workers distributing aid funded by his Department in (a) Baghdad, (b) Basra and (c) elsewhere in Iraq, with particular reference to women aid workers.

Hilary Benn: The safety of UK personnel throughout Iraq is a top priority. Extensive measures are taken to protect DFID staff and consultants in their living and working quarters, as well as when they are travelling outside Coalition Provisional Authority compounds. These measures include the provision of personal safety and communications equipment, pre-posting security training and briefing and, where appropriate, armed protection. Security arrangements are kept under constant review. The same arrangements apply to men and women.
	We are in close contact on security issues with the United Nations, which distributes a significant proportion of DFID's assistance to Iraq. We recently allocated £3 million to enhance UN security following the bombing of its Baghdad Headquarters in August and to replace equipment destroyed in that attack.
	DFID also maintains regular contact with UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Iraq, in which safety and security issues are discussed. Where necessary DFID provides additional funding to those NGOs which we are financing in order to enable them to enhance their own security measures. It is however for each NGO to determine for itself the level and type of security to put in place, according to the circumstances in which it is working.
	DFID contracts with commercial companies allow for them to put appropriate security provisions in place. We expect them to adopt equivalent levels of security for their own staff to those we provide for DFID personnel. Security information is shared with these companies on a regular basis.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the level was of the UK contribution to the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The United Nations Oil for Food Programme was financed entirely from the sale of Iraq's oil.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures are being taken by (a) the UK and (b) the UK with others to prevent food shortages in Iraq;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the level of food shortages in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The Public Distribution System for food, managed by the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, provides a basic ration for the whole population. Since the end of the United Nations Oil for Food Programme in November 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has become responsible for food procurement. Contracts already funded are expected to ensure that sufficient basic food will be available until mid-2004.
	Significant levels of chronic malnutrition nevertheless persist in Iraq, mainly as a result of long-term poverty and the inability of many people to supplement their basic rations with food containing sufficient minerals and vitamins. A number of programmes are being implemented by bodies such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF and NGOs to provide supplementary feeding to vulnerable groups. DFID is providing support for such programmes, and also for the work of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in reviving agricultural production in Iraq.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent assessment has been made of the availability of medical supplies in Iraq;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the levels of equipment at (a) the teaching hospital in Basra and (b) the Nuclear Medicines Hospital.

Hilary Benn: Work is currently under way between the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Coalition Provisional Authority and World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop a complete overview of missing drugs, supplies and equipment. This is expected to be complete by March. A great deal has already been achieved to re-establish drug and equipment supply systems. The initial focus was, rightly, on securing adequate supplies of the most essential medicines and vaccines.
	Until new supply systems are fully operational, however, including comprehensive accounting and reporting processes to ensure that needs are identified before shortages arise, some problems will continue to occur. Even when these systems are in place, there may continue to be shortages of some highly specialised drugs and equipment.
	The most critical contribution the international community can make is to ensure that the Ministry of Health can call on the technical expertise to enable them to prioritise their needs among highly competing demands. This is the nature of some of the support which the WHO has been providing, with DFID funding. We are also looking at possibilities for longer-term technical assistance to this and other key service delivery Ministries to assist with the budget prioritisation process, and to help ensure that they are able to access both Iraqi government revenues and donor funding.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Despite continuing terrorist attacks against the Iraqi people, the international community and Multinational Forces in Iraq, the security situation is improving throughout the country as a whole. The majority of insurgency attacks remain largely confined to a limited area to the north and north-west of Baghdad.
	Security problems are however still hampering humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, by way of sabotage of infrastructure and attacks on humanitarian workers and contractors. Several humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have withdrawn expatriate personnel from Iraq for security reasons. Many of their programmes are however continuing under the management of well-qualified Iraqi staff. We are offering NGOs working on DFID-funded projects in Iraq financial support to meet additional security requirements; and we have allocated £3 million to the United Nations to strengthen its security in Iraq and to replace equipment lost in the bombing of its Baghdad headquarters in August.
	The safety of UK personnel throughout Iraq is a top priority. Extensive measures are taken to protect DFID staff and consultants in their living and working quarters, as well as when they are travelling outside Coalition Provisional Authority compounds.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment has been made of the supply of (a) clean water, (b) sanitation and (c) electricity in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The most comprehensive assessment of the water supply, sanitation and electricity systems in Iraq is included within the Joint Iraq Needs Assessment prepared by the United Nations/World bank and available on the World bank website: http://worldbank.org
	More recently the requirements of the various sectors have been assessed by the relevant Iraqi Ministries in conjunction with the CPA to develop the schedule of projects to be funded through the US Supplemental and managed by the Iraq Project Management Office and which are available at: www.rebuildinq-Iraq.net
	Other regular and on-going assessments of the various service sectors are prepared by a number of agencies including:
	Coalition Provisional Authority—www.cpa-iraq.org
	USAID—www.usaid.gov/iraq
	UNICEF—www.unicef.org

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with non-governmental organisations which have withdrawn from Iraq about the prospects of a safe return to the country to continue with humanitarian work.

Hilary Benn: DFID holds regular meetings with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Iraq, during which security issues are discussed. A number of NGOs have reduced their presence and profile in Iraq as a result of the high levels of insecurity in the country. DFID has offered additional financial support to those NGOs we are funding in Iraq for appropriate increased security provisions, if needed, and a number of NGOs have responded to this offer. Even where some NGOs have withdrawn their expatriate staff, most existing programmes are able to continue under the management of very capable Iraqi staff, albeit sometimes with additional security constraints.

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the £60 million funding for his Department's expenditure in Iraq announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 April 2003 has been claimed.

Hilary Benn: The £60 million set aside by the Chancellor for Iraq is included in the UK's total Madrid pledge of £544 for the three years from April 2003. It is available to other Government Departments as well as DFID. £30.8 million has already been allocated, primarily towards meeting the costs of UK secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority. The allocation of the remainder is under consideration.

Liberia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of (a) the supply of clean water, (b) sanitation and (c) electricity supply in Liberia.

Hilary Benn: Clean water supply remains a major challenge, although immediate needs are being met. In urban centres, DFID has supported efforts to chlorinate shallow wells and, in sites where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have collected, to provide safe water from drilled bore-holes with tankers, storage bladders and distribution networks. In rural areas, a major programme to rehabilitate wells and hand pumps is under way, with DFID backing.
	Urgent sanitation needs are largely under control, since IDPs were moved from Monrovia to formal camps with established sanitation infrastructures.
	Electrical supply has been virtually non-existent throughout the country for the last 15 years. The population has largely adjusted to this, and urgent needs, for instance in hospitals, are covered by generators provided and run by the humanitarian community.
	Repairing and expanding the electrical grid system remains a significant mid-term rehabilitation requirement.

Liberia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Liberia and its impact on humanitarian relief.

Hilary Benn: The general security situation in Liberia remains stable, if fragile. However, while the number of UNMIL peacekeeping troops is insufficient to guarantee security across the country, the humanitarian agencies are understandably cautious in extending their activities beyond Monrovia; humanitarian operations remain restricted in scope, with only a few agencies implementing mostly small-scale activities in the more distant and insecure counties. In spite of this, the most urgent and acute humanitarian needs across Liberia are being met. Recent UNMIL deployments to Buchanan and Tubmanburg will, we hope, lead to the opening of UN sub-offices in these strategic towns, and a scaling up of humanitarian assistance. We understand that the UN is considering reducing the security alert level outside Monrovia from the current maximum level of Phase IV. This would also assist the spread of humanitarian programmes.

Liberia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the levels of (a) food, (b) shelter and (c) medicine for the people of Liberia.

Hilary Benn: Given the extensive displacement of the population from their agricultural land, domestic food production in Liberia is inadequate, and will remain so in 2004. However, plans to feed almost 800,000 vulnerable people in 2004, which we propose to support, should provide sufficient food to avert extreme shortages.
	With the large majority of informal settlements in Monrovia having been closed, and their occupants resettled to more formal camps, shelter for IDPs is considered by the relief agencies to be adequate, although temporary. The reconstruction of permanent shelters in IDPs' places of origin remains a major challenge for 2004–05.
	With the reactivation of health services across the country, managed by international NGOs (with DFID support), medicines are in good supply in those areas where agencies are currently able to operate.

Liberia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Liberia.

Hilary Benn: Liberia is just beginning a planned period of recovery from long and widespread destruction and collapse of Government services caused by civil war, corruption, and incompetent Government unconcerned to provide public services. Consequently, there has been no progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
	The National Transitional Government of Liberia, which has been in office only since October 2003, has agreed with the UN, World Bank and international agencies a comprehensive framework for post-conflict recovery over its two-year period of office. Its intention is to put in place, over this period, the basis for re-establishment of Government Administration and service provision that will subsequently enable progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Malaria

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money has been given by his Department in each of the last six years (a) for medicines to fight malaria and (b) to research into affordable anti-malaria medicines.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development works closely with many partners to help developing countries accelerate progress towards achieving the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Goal VI is: by 2015, to have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. Goal IV contains a target to reduce by two thirds between 1990 and 2015 the under-five mortality ratio.
	The UK is committed to tackling malaria and contributing towards poverty reduction, in line with the MDGs and the associated Abuja Targets on malaria control. At the 1998 G8 summit in Birmingham the UK pledged £60 million in support of malaria activities, with £48 million allocated to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) over the period January 1999 to March 2004. RBM provides coordinated support for sustainable action against malaria. This includes providing technical support to Governments to ensure that their anti-malarial drug policies enable those suffering from malaria to get early treatment and to access affordable and appropriate medicines. As an active partner of RBM, DFID works to ensure RBM provides sound evidence-based support for the effective use of resources, including those available from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which we have committed a total of US$280 million.
	Within our overall spend on communicable diseases, we estimate that the amount spent on named malaria projects, including country programme and research spend, has been:
	1997–98: £2,152,884
	1998–99: £5,651,063
	1999–2000: £13,882,671
	2000–01: £17,372,874
	2001–02: £17,280,357
	2002–03: £18,892,095
	DFID funds a variety of projects and programmes which work towards malaria control, including on the development and supply of anti-malarial drugs. DFID makes direct investments in research that covers malaria in several ways. Every year we give £4 million to the MRC through a Concordat agreement, which prioritises the needs of developing countries. Within the overall MRC portfolio, the focus on basic clinical research that can be used to identify new drug candidates includes malaria.
	DFID also engage more directly in partnerships with industry to transform basic research, of the kind supported by the MRC, into drugs. We recently worked with GlaxoSmithKline, the WHO programme on Tropical Disease Research and Liverpool University in the development of a cheap new drug called LAPDAP(tm). In order to make the best use of this drug, further research to combine it with another drug to protect against early resistance is being undertaken, managed under an umbrella organisation called the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which DFID also supports. MMV is an important and innovative organisation that brings together researchers from the public and private sectors, with donors and foundations. DFID is funding MMV with £1 million per year for five years. Since its inception in 1999 MMV has demonstrated significant progress towards reaching its objective to deliver two new drugs in the next 10 years.
	Effective health systems are equally important if medicines are to be delivered safely. Many poor countries still do not have the capacity to deliver treatments for malaria in a safe and effective way, regardless of their cost. This is why we have committed £1.5 billion since 1997 to help developing countries strengthen their health systems.

Maternal Mortality

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to meet the Millennium Development goals to reduce the level of maternal mortality among developing countries;
	(2)  what further action he proposes to take to help to achieve an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 49 per cent. to 67 per cent.

Hilary Benn: I will answer questions 7107 and 7507 together.
	Globally well over half a million women die in childbirth each year. A further 1.5 million women are left with a disability as a result of complications in childbirth and two million children are orphaned. The 5th Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health has a target to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. One proxy indicator of progress against this target is the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants. This is reflected in DFID's Public Service Agreement Targets.
	Improvement in the proportion of births assisted by skilled attendants has been a key feature in countries where the maternal mortality ratio has been reduced. Skilled attendance means the presence of a professional with midwifery skills, supported by the necessary supplies and systems. Also important is a functioning referral system, able to provide rapid access to life saving skills and procedures in the event of an emergency. The reality in many developing countries falls far short of this and most women deliver alone or with a family member or traditional birth attendant.
	DFID is committed to reducing the toll of maternal death and to promoting women's right to a safe pregnancy and childbirth. The Department's strategy includes advocacy in the international arena, support to countries to strengthen health systems and improve access to maternal and reproductive health services, and support for research and improved measurement tools. Since 1997 the Department has committed approximately £1.5 billion to help developing countries put in place effective health care systems which are vital if maternity services are to be improved. DFID has specific bilateral programmes to promote safe motherhood in Nepal, Malawi and Kenya, which include work to improve access to skilled attendants with the necessary accompanying improvements in access to emergency obstetric care. DFID also supports the maternal health work of international multilateral agencies, including WHO, and international NGOs.
	DFID is participating in a new international partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health and supports a number research programmes to improve the evidence base on effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality including the Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme Assessment (IMMPACT) with the Gates Foundation, USAID and the EC.

Middle East

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) movement restrictions on Palestinians and (b) the construction of the separation wall on the access of children living in the town of Abu Dis and surrounding villages to schools and other educational facilities;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) movement restrictions on Palestinians and (b) the construction of the separation wall on the ability of people living in the town of Abu Dis and surrounding villages to visit hospital and other health facilities.

Hilary Benn: Abu Dis and its neighbouring villages on the eastern flank of Jerusalem are socially and economically integrated into Jerusalem. The construction of the separation wall, between the municipal boundary of Jerusalem and Abu Dis, will isolate Palestinians from their places of work, schools and health facilities.
	Abu Dis provides only basic health care services. Movement restrictions and the separation barrier, will deny many Palestinians access to the nearest hospitals in Jerusalem. Schooling will be severely disrupted too. Currently many Jerusalemites send their children to schools in Abu Dis, and vice versa. The separation wall cuts through Al Quds University, which will lose one third of its land.

Middle East

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the preliminary analysis of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published on 15 December 2003 into the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the Separation Wall outlined in the map released by the Israeli Government on 23 October 2003;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the preliminary analysis of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published on 15 December 2003 into the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the Separation Wall outlined in the map released by the Israeli Government on 23 October 2003 on the website www.seamzone.mod.gov.il.

Hilary Benn: I agree with the preliminary analysis on the humanitarian consequences of the separation wall in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report of 15 December 2003. The livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians have been drastically affected by the separation of villages from their agricultural land and water resources. The separation wall fragments communities and isolates people from vital social support networks.
	I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs preliminary analysis on the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the separation wall, published on 15 December 2003.

Poverty Reduction

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further action he proposes to take to secure a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The UK is committed to helping secure a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The Prime Minister gave his commitment prior to the G8 summit in Canada in 2002 to significantly increase UK spending on bilateral programmes in Africa, and we are on course to increase the UK's budget for bilateral programmes in Africa, to £1 billion by 2005–06, (up from around £650 million a year in 2002).
	We shall concentrate our resources in countries strongly committed to poverty reduction and on helping to end and recover from conflict. We will work to improve the effectiveness of UK and others' aid, by supporting country government systems and priorities. We shall continue to promote better coordination and harmonisation between bilateral donors and multilateral organisations on the ground.
	The G8 will report progress on the Africa Action Plan during the UK Presidency in 2005. The Africa Action Plan expresses our political support for the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The Prime Minister's priorities in particular include conflict, HIV/AIDS, primary education and trade.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Hilary Benn: The present policy in DFID is to undertake our IT work in the most cost-effective and efficient way with a blend of "in-house teams" and outsourcing where appropriate. We have no specific policy about offshore outsourcing but keep the situation under regular review.
	The Department for International Development has no call centres. We have not outsourced any of our IT work to offshore companies nor do we have any specific budgets to do so in the next two years.
	We have over 60 overseas offices, some of which are co-located with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and we recruit local staff to assist with the maintenance of our IT systems as required.

Sierra Leone

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Sierra Leone and its impact on the provision of humanitarian aid.

Hilary Benn: Security is well-established across Sierra Leone. The whole country is under Government control, with the support of UNAMSIL. The Government's security agencies are developing their capacity in preparation for the withdrawal of UNAMSIL at the end of the year. The UK is providing extensive support to this process. The Government are currently carrying out a security sector review to put in place measures to guard against threats in the future, both internal and external. We plan to review our support to the security sector when the report of the Government's review is available, and will make modifications to our support as necessary, to assist with the maintenance of security beyond the departure of UNAMSIL.
	There is no security restriction on humanitarian aid. Humanitarian agencies are able to operate in all parts of the country.

Somalia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the status of the drought affecting the north-western regions of Somalia; and what assessment he has made of the impact which the drought is having on levels of malnutrition in the region.

Hilary Benn: A succession of failed rains over the past four years has resulted in large-scale food insecurity among pastoral populations in the Sool and Sanaag regions of northern Somalia. The UN Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) surveyed the Sool plateau between 27 November and 5 December 2003, with preliminary results showing a global acute malnutrition rate of 18.9 per cent. and a severe acute malnutrition rate of 3.8 per cent. amongst children. Malnutrition rates among adult women (15 to 49 years) were 17.3 per cent., suggesting all household members are affected by the current drought. There is evidence of deterioration in the nutritional status of the population, confirmed by reports of collapsing social support system and a worsening drought after the failure of Deyr rains. Malnutrition rates appeared significantly higher among children from pastoral households than those in major villages. With no rains expected before April, further losses to livestock and other assets are expected.
	Unfortunately the growing tension between Somaliland and Puntland, who both claim the drought-affected areas as their territory, could jeopardise assistance if the situation escalates into violent conflict.

Street Children

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money is being provided by his Department to tackle the problem of street children in Russia in 2003–04.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2003–04 DFID is spending £164,500 to tackle the problem of street children in Russia, of which £89,000 is committed under the project "Supporting Vulnerable Children in Ekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk Oblast". The project purpose is to improve the quality of life for vulnerable children by providing family-focused, rather than institutional, care. The remaining £75,000 is committed under a number of-small projects funded through the Health and Social Care Partnership Scheme. These projects include drug and alcohol awareness programmes for street children, activities to prevent homelessness and the development of foster care.

Street Children

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many street children there are in (a) Asia, (b) Africa, (c) Latin America, the Caribbean and the overseas territories and (d) the Middle East.

Hilary Benn: There are no internationally agreed definitions of street children and estimates of total numbers are unreliable and patchy. For all areas, numbers are therefore very difficult to assess.
	For Asia I refer the hon.Member to the answer given by my hon.Friend for Harrow West on 15 January Official Report column 831W.
	In Africa street children form a proportion of the 300 million people that live in extreme poverty (on less than $1 per day, figure relates to 1999). Across Africa we know that some 50 million girls and boys are out of school (UNESCO). Some of these will be street children.
	In Latin America street children again form a proportion of the 135 million people that live in poverty (on less than $2 per day). There are some 2 million children out of school at primary level and some of these will be street children.
	As far as DFID is aware there are no street children in the British Overseas Territories. There is no comprehensive date available for numbers of street children in the Caribbean.
	The numbers of street children in the Middle East region as a whole is difficult to assess although UNICEF estimate that there are in excess of 1 million street children in Cairo alone. Where children are particularly vulnerable, for instance Iraq, UNICEF is undertaking research that will assist the government and international donor community efforts to meet their needs.

Sub-Saharan Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the breakdown between public sector finance and private sector finance towards the costs of delivering the millennium development goals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hilary Benn: Several estimates of costs of reaching the millennium development goals (MDGs) have been made using differing methodologies and assumptions about developments over the next decade. Uncertainties include how rapidly the policies of African countries might improve, how rapidly countries which have been in conflict emerge from it, how severe the longer term impacts of HIV/AIDS will be, and what impact shocks such as droughts might have.
	Improved policies can make a big difference to the costs of achieving improvements in social indicators, but undoubtedly much more money is needed to achieve the MDGs. Both public and private finance has a role to play. Public expenditure is needed to help fund social services such as health and education, and the money for this can come from domestic taxes as well as from external aid. How much domestic revenue is generated depends on how fast the economy grows as well as on the tax system. Private investment, domestic and foreign, can help finance social services too, but also has the potential to accelerate economic growth.
	More analysis has been done on how much extra foreign aid will be needed for the MDGs in sub-Saharan Africa than on how much extra private sector money would be necessary. The aid estimates suggest that two or three times the current total annual inflows of $13 billion might be needed. The scale of this challenge suggests that we need to focus on four things. First, we should encourage African countries to develop sound policies for reducing poverty and the capacity to implement them, while continuing to follow prudent macroeconomic policies and to improve the environment they create for private investors. This will enhance their capacity to use aid effectively at the same time as raising their economic growth potential. Second, we should promote higher inflows of aid to countries with such policies. Third, we should seek to improve the quality of aid, in terms of its predictability and flexibility, for instance by directly funding national budgets. Fourth, we should work to make international trade and finance systems more supportive of economic growth and poverty reduction in low income countries.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of political stability in Sudan.

Chris Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
	Good progress continues to be made at the peace talks in Naivasha, Kenya. Both parties have now described the peace process as irreversible and they are hoping to conclude a framework agreement very soon. Although problems persist in some areas, and we continue to be very concerned about the situation in Darfur, there is, at last, a real chance for peace and stability in Sudan.

World Poverty

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people in the world living on (a) less than one dollar a day, (b) between one and two dollars a day and (c) between two and five dollars a day.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not produce its own estimates of the number of people living in poverty. This is a complex and resource intensive task. We use estimates produced by the World Bank. The latest estimates are that in 2000 there were 1.1 billion people in the world living on less than a dollar a day and a further 1.6 billion people living on between one and two dollars a day. A figure is not given for the number living on between two and five dollars a day.
	More information on the analysis, including regional breakdowns, is in Chapter 1 of the World Bank's Global Economic Prospects 2004. This is available at: http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gep2004/toc.htm

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last met representatives of opposition parties in Zimbabwe; and when he next expects to meet representatives.

Hilary Benn: Since my appointment, I have not had any formal meetings with members of Zimbabwean opposition parties. Although I did have a brief conversation with the Secretary General of the MDC during his visit in November 2003. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and other FCO Ministers have had regular contacts with the Movement for Democratic Change, most recently during the visit to the UK of the Secretary General of the MDC. DFID officials also have occasional contact with representatives of Zimbabwean political parties.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with Amnesty International about (a) the level and (b) the nature of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: The British Embassy in Harare is in regular contact with a number of human rights organisations operating there who are monitoring the situation on the ground. Embassy officials in Harare and in London regularly receive reporting from Amnesty International about the level and nature of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, but have not met Amnesty recently to discuss Zimbabwe.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Art Acquisition

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has not purchased nor sold any works of art during the period since 1997.

Children's Rights

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by when the Government are due to report to the Committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on what the UK is doing to fulfil the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; whether the Government have submitted this report; when this report will be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK has not yet ratified this Optional Protocol, so is not required to report on it. However, we do intend to ratify at the earliest opportunity. The UK will then be required to submit a report to the Committee within two years of the ratification coming into force, in accordance with article 12 of the Optional Protocol.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list information technology contracts in his Department and its predecessors with a value of above 20 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Stephen Twigg: Neither the Department for Education and Skills nor its predecessors have let an information technology system contract in the last 10 years with a value above 20 million euros. A number of contracts for services have been let with a value above 20 million euros in that period and some of those contracts have included information technology elements as an integral part of the delivery arrangements. In no case has the implementation date of those contracted services been delayed by information technology problems, and consequently no costs have been incurred as a result of system development or de-bugging over-runs.

Jigsaw Research (Correspondence)

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on the recent research conducted by Jigsaw Research into what customers think of the quality of the Department's replies to letters.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 14 January 2004
	The Department's Strategic Framework Delivering Results-A Strategy to 2006, sets out a commitment to deliver prompt, responsive and consistently excellent services to our customers. The Department receives over 200,000 phone calls, letters and emails from the public every year. The recent research conducted by Jigsaw Research cost 18,000 and is our way of measuring the service we provide and identifying areas for improvement in our responses to letters, telephone calls and emails.

Office for Fair Access

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will propose an amendment to the Higher Education Bill to require the annual report produced by the Director of Fair Access to be accompanied by an annual debate on the floor of the House; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 January 2004
	We have no plans to make such an amendment. Members of Parliament are always free to seek debates in the House. We have also said that we will establish an independent review, working with the Director for Fair Access to report to this House, based upon the first three years of variable fees, and I am sure there will be an opportunity to debate that report.

Office for Fair Access

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Director for Fair Access will safeguard fair access to higher education if top-up fees are introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 January 2004
	From 2006, no institution will be able to charge higher fees without having an Access Plan approved by the Director of Fair Access. This will include details of the action they will take to safeguard access, including offering financial support (including bursaries) and running outreach activities. The Director of Fair Access will also have the responsibility for renewing and monitoring reports on the implementation of Access Plans.

Office for Fair Access

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information must be contained in the plan that a higher education institution must provide to the Director of Fair Access in order to increase fees above the basic rate; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 January 2004
	An access plan must include the levels of fee the institution wishes to charge for its courses. We also intend, through regulations, that an institution should include in its access plan details of the financial assistance (including bursaries) they will offer; how it will attract applications through outreach activities; how it will inform prospective students about financial assistance available to them; and set out its own objectives in widening participation. Institutions will also need to set out how they will monitor their compliance with the plan and progress against their objectives.

Office for Fair Access

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will break down the planned expenditure for the proposed Office for Fair Access by (a) salaries and staff, (b) office, (c) personal expenses and (d) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer on 15 January 2004
	We have said in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which we published alongside the Higher Education Bill that OFFA's costs will average around 500,000 per year. We will provide further detail in due course.

Office for Fair Access

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Office for Fair Access will continue the system of fining universities that do not meet their benchmarks for participation from under-represented social groups.

Alan Johnson: There is no current system of fining institutions because they do not meet their benchmarks and neither will OFFA do so.

Office for Fair Access

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether he intends to set a cap on the level of specified financial requirements that the Higher Education Funding Council for England can impose on universities breaking the terms of their access agreements;
	(2)  what notice the Director of Fair Access must give to universities under the provisions of section 35 (1)(b) of the Higher Education Bill;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the average length of time that an access agreement between the Director of Fair Access and each individual university will last.

Alan Johnson: We intend to publish our draft regulations during the passage of the HE Bill which will provide information about access plans, and how the Director of Fair Access will operate.

Sign Bilingualism

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to secure universal access for deaf children to Sign Bilingualism; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Last March the Government issued a position statement recognising British Sign Language (BSL) as a language in its own right and announcing that it would make available 1 million for a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement. A working group comprising key Government Departments and organisations for deaf people has been established to advise on priorities for allocating the funding. Tenders are currently being sought for work which will contribute to establishing a Great Britain wide framework to support the recruitment, training and deployment of BSL tutors and for work which will promote access for BSL users through awareness-raising amongst employers, service providers and in the wider community. The working group will also be considering strategies and policies which overtime will further increase access to BSL and will be making recommendations to Ministers in the autumn.
	Parents of deaf pupils who have statements of special educational needs, are able to express a preference for the maintained school they would like their child to attend, and can also make representations for a place at an independent or non-maintained special schools. Before expressing a preference they are able to consider communication approaches offered by different schoolsauditory-oral, total communication or sign bilingualism.

Sixth-form Budgets

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget for the teaching of A-Levels and equivalent academic courses in sixth-form colleges was in each year since 199697; and what the budget is for 200506.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 14 January 2004
	The Department allocates funds to the Learning and Skills Council for the provision of A-Levels and equivalent academic courses in the post-16 learning and skills sector. The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for sixth-form colleges. It is for the Learning and Skills Council to determine for itself the right level of investment in sixth-form colleges from the funds allocated to it for learning participation. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will to write to the hon. Gentleman providing details of the funds allocated to sixth-form colleges from 199697 to 200304, and provisional allocations to sixth form colleges from 200405 to 200506. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

Student Complaints Office

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimates he has made of the cost of providing (a) maintenance loans and (b) fee loans in each of the next 10 years assuming (i) current student numbers and (ii) expected growth in student numbers;
	(2)  how much annual Government spending on student loans will change in each of the next 10 years from the amount set out in the Higher Education Bill.

Alan Johnson: Information on the costs and benefits associated with the proposal in the Higher Education Bill to allow universities to set their own tuition fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that both students and higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

Student Complaints Office

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the size of the total student loan debt was in each year since 1999; what the size of the increases in (a) loans taken out and (b) repayments of principal were in each year; what the increases from interest additions were in each year; and what the Government contribution to the student loan scheme was in each year.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 January 2004
	The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has responsibilities for student loanspaid to higher education students domiciled in England and Wales, and this information is therefore provided on an England and Wales basis.
	The table shows the student loans issued, repaid, the interest added and the amount outstanding at the end of the year for financial years 19992000 to 200102, and the change between each financial year.
	
		 million
		
			 England and Wales 
			  Financial year 
			  19992000 Change 200001 Change 20012002 
		
		
			 Lent 1,281.7 618.1 1,899.8 217.9 2,117.7 
			 Repaid(7) 111.4 47.1 158.5 80.6 239.1 
			 Interest added 69.4 32.1 101.5 44.1 145.6 
			 Amount outstanding at the end of the financial year 3,413.8 1,889.3 5,303.1 1,900.1 7,203.2 
		
	
	(7) Amounts repaid cannot be split between repayments of principal and interest.
	The resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) costs to the Treasury for loans to students domiciled in England and Wales are shown in the table:
	Full details of student loans movements for England and Wales are included in the DfES resource accounts.
	
		 million
		
			 Resource Accounting andBudgeting costs  
			 Financial year Movement on Provisions 
		
		
			 19992000 558.9 
			 200001 794.6 
			 200102 855.9 
		
	
	Full details of student loans movemednts for England and Wales are included in the DfES resource accounts.
	No figures have yet been published for 200203. Information for that year will be contained in the 200203 resource accounts which will be published within the next month.

Student Complaints Office

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects universities to take on responsibility for the funding of the new student complaints office.

Alan Johnson: We anticipate that universities and other higher education sector institutions will be required, subject to parliamentary approval of the Higher Education Bill and designation of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), to fund the OIA from March 2005.

Teacher Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many bursaries for primary teacher training posts are to be funded from the Sure Start programme in 200405;
	(2)  how many of the additional initial teacher training places for primary teaching in 200405 will be eligible to receive bursaries;
	(3)  what plans he has to guarantee teaching posts to undergraduates who have received bursaries funded through the Sure Start programme.

David Miliband: I announced last month that a minimum of 400 initial teacher training places would be made available in the 2004/05 academic year for trainees with an early years specialism. These are all places on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses and will therefore in principle attract 6,000 training bursaries. An additional 2 million will be made available to the Teacher Training Agency to cover the costs of the additional places that will fall in the 200405 financial year. In view of the growing demand for trained teachers in early years settings, there is every reason to expect that suitable employment opportunities will be available for the trainees who are being recruited to fill these places.

Top-up Fees

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be raised for higher education in (a) 2006 and (b) each year to 2020 under (i) the present arrangements and (ii) his proposals on top-up fees.

Alan Johnson: The latest available estimates for fee income under the existing arrangements are for 2003/04: the total income from the standard fee of 1,125 is estimated at 847 million. Information on the additional income from variables fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the extra income from fees will vary according to the decisions that higher education institutions take on the level of fee, both when variable fees are introduced, and as universities' fee policies evolve in subsequent years. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

University Bursaries

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average bursary that universities charging the full 3,000 will pass on to students from poorer backgrounds; and how many students he estimates will receive this bursary.

Alan Johnson: As a minimum, the Government want to ensure that no student who qualifies for the maximum state support (around 30 per cent. of students) has to take out additional debt as a result of higher fees. For a student on a 3,000 course, this means a minimum bursary/financial support of at least 300. But, as we have made clear the Director will expect more than the minimum from those institutions that do not have a strong record in access. For example, Cambridge University have announced that they will offer bursaries of 4,000 a year for the poorest students. Therefore we expect the average bursary will be more than 300 and more than 30 per cent. of students will benefit.

University Bursaries

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers the Office of Fair Access will have in the setting of bursary amounts in respect of universities that do not have strong records in recruiting students from poorer backgrounds.

Alan Johnson: From 2006, no institution will be able to charge higher fees without having an access plan which will include details of the action they will take to safeguard access, including offering financial support (including bursaries) and running outreach activities. The Director of Fair Access will scrutinise the access plans and refuse to approve any which are not satisfactory.

University Fees

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what total revenue he expects to be raised assuming (a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent., (f) 60 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 80 per cent., (i) 90 per cent. and (j) 100 per cent. of universities charge the full 3,000 fee, with the remainder of universities charging the standard fee of 1,200;
	(2)  what total revenue he expects to be raised assuming (a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent., (f) 60 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 80 per cent., (i) 90 per cent. and (j) 100 per cent. of universities charge the full 3,000 fee, with the remainder of universities charging the standard fee of 1,200 less the total amount spent on bursaries.

Alan Johnson: Information on the additional income from fees in different scenarios is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the extra income from fees will vary according to the decisions that higher education institutions take on the level of fee. Figures for extra fee income, with and without the amount spent on bursaries, cannot therefore be estimated precisely at this stage. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Bush Administration regarding the role of the United Nations in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular contact with the US Administration on all aspects of the situation in Iraq, including the role of the United Nations. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Bush have repeatedly affirmed, we support the UN's vital role in Iraq, in accordance with the mandate set out in relevant Security Council resolutions. The future role of the UN will be discussed at a meeting between the UN Secretary-General, the Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority today.

Iraq

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British companies have won contracts to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq, broken down by type of service or project provided.

Mike O'Brien: We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the reconstruction process in Iraq. Several UK companies have won contracts to assist in that process but have asked us not to publicise their success because of commercial confidentiality. Furthermore, UK companies are not required to report such details to the Government. Therefore, we are unable to provide the information requested. However, UK firms are active in the power, water, banking, ports, construction, telecoms, security, legal services and consultancy services.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British technical experts are deployed (a) with the Iraqi Survey Group and (b) for the disarmament of Libya's weapons of mass destruction; and what the cost to date has been in conducting each mission.

Denis MacShane: There are currently 55 British personnel (both civilian and military) deployed with the Iraq Survey Group. The costs to the United Kingdom of their mission are not recorded separately in a readily accessible form and cannot, therefore, be differentiated from the total cost of personnel deployed to the Gulf region as a whole. We do not have figures relating to costs incurred on support for the Iraq Survey Group by other Coalition Partners.
	There are no British personnel currently deployed to Libya to assist with the disarmament of Libya's weapons of mass destruction.

Poland

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of people expected to travel from Poland to reside and work in the United Kingdom following Poland's accession to the European Union on 1 May.

Denis MacShane: Research conducted for the Home Office by University College London (published in June 2003) estimates that the numbers of people who will migrate to the UK from the new Member States in the years following enlargement will not be significant. The University College London report is available on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2503.pdf. The research was not broken down by country.

Visas

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was in each of the last five years of the visa sections of (a) embassies and (b) high commissions and consuls, including the cost of entry clearance officers.

Chris Mullin: Total global costs of running UKvisas operations for the years 199899, 19992000, 200001 and 200102 are published in the annual Foreign and Commonwealth Office Department Report, available in the Library of the House and on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk. The latest published figure is 81.386 million for 200102. To break down the information further as requested by my hon. Friend could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Angola

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of human rights abuses in the Cabinda province of Angola; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We remain concerned about reports of human rights violations in Cabinda. We hope that a speedy and negotiated settlement to the Cabinda question can be found. Our embassy in Luanda is monitoring the situation closely in consultation with EU partners.

Bilateral Treaties (United States)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bilateral treaties have been signed since 1 May 1997 between the UK and the United States, giving in each case (a) the date of signature, (b) the title and (c) information on whether the treaty is available for public inspection.

Jack Straw: 14 bilateral treaties have been signed with the Government of the United States of America since 1 May 1997. Of these, 11 have so far been published, with the remaining three expected in due course. International treaties to which the UK is a party are published as Command Papers as soon as possible after they are concluded, and are widely available through The Stationery Office (TSO). All Treaty Command Papers published since March 2002, and their accompanying Explanatory Memoranda, have also been placed on the internet and may be accessed via: www.fco.gov.uk/treaty
	The relevant bilateral treaties are:
	(1) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the establishment on Ascension Island of an Additional Facility to be operated on Behalf of the United States Air Force.
	Signed 15 July 1997 and 22 July 1997.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 049/1997: Cm 3739.
	(2) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning Maritime and Aerial Operations to Suppress Illicit Trafficking by Sea in Waters of the Caribbean and Bermuda with Exchange of Notes.
	Signed 13 July 1998.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 002/2001: Cm 5031.
	(3) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Government of the United States of America relating to investment incentives.
	Signed on 20 April 1999.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 041/1999: Cm 4395.
	(4) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the construction of a Monitoring Facility on Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (British Indian Ocean Territory 1999).
	Signed on 18 June 1999 and 21 July 1999.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 001/2000: Cm 4582.
	(5) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America amending the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters done at Washington on 6 January 1994.
	Signed on 30 April 2001 and 1 May 2001.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 008/2002: Cm 5375.
	(6) Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains.
	Signed on 24 July 2001.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 023/2003: Cm 5880.
	(7) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including the Government of the Cayman Islands, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Information relating to Taxes.
	Signed on 27 November 2001.
	Not yet published.
	(8) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including the Government of the British Virgin Islands, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Information relating to Taxes.
	Signed on 3 April 2002.
	Not yet published.
	(9) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America amending the Agreement done at London on 27 March 1941, and related lease and other arrangements regarding the establishment, use, operation and defence of the United States bases on Bermuda.
	Signed on 18 June 2002.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 049/2002: Cm 5683.
	(10) Protocol amending the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and capital Gains, signed at London on 24 July 2001.
	Signed on 19 July 2002.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 023/2003: Cm 5880.
	(11) Extradition Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America.
	Signed on 31 March 2003.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Country Series as United States No. 001/2003: Cm 5821.
	(12) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America regarding the sharing of Forfeited or Confiscated Assets or their Equivalent Funds.
	Signed on 31 March 2003.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 034/2003: Cm 5946.
	(13) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America to extend the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters signed at Washington on 6 January 1994 to the Isle of Man.
	Signed on 2 June 2003 and 5 June 2003.
	Not yet published.
	(14) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the use of Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island by Civil Aircraft not engaged in Scheduled International Air Services.
	Signed on 1 October 2003.
	Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 051/2003: Cm 6087.

Brazil

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil about nuclear proliferation issues.

Bill Rammell: We maintain a substantive and on-going dialogue with Brazil on the full range of nuclear proliferation issues at official level in London, Brasilia and at relevant international organisations and international fora. There has been no recent discussion at ministerial level on these themes.

Chechnya

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence his Department has of links between Chechens and (a) al-Qaeda, (b) Iraqi insurgents and (c) other practitioners of terrorism.

Denis MacShane: Chechen extremists had close and long-established links to terrorists based in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Some foreign terrorists who trained in Afghanistan, and had ties with al-Qaeda, went on to fight in Chechnya. Some Chechens fought with the Taliban and al-Qaeda against the Northern Alliance, and subsequently against the Coalition. Chechen groups even set up an Embassy in Kabul in early 2001. Those involved are subject to UN sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 1267. Under the same resolution, the leading Chechen rebel field commander Shamil Basayev was made subject to UN sanctions on 12 August 2003.We have no strong evidence of Chechen terrorists being in Iraq. Some networks that support Chechen terrorism, however, may also support extremists in Iraq. Chechen extremists have developed links with a wide range of other extremists, including some in Europe, in order to fund and support their campaign. Some extremists see the conflict in Chechnya as a 'jihad' which they have a duty to support.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent progress towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.[R]

Denis MacShane: holding answer 15 January 2004
	The formation of a new government under the leadership of the pro-settlement politician Mehmet Ali Talat in northern Cyprus is an encouraging development. So too was the statement last week by Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan. I was impressed during my visit to Ankara last week at the new positive line from the Turkish Government in support of the Annan Plan. I stressed in talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Gul the need for Turkey to support and work for the speedy acceptance of the Annan Plan with a view to finding a settlement that would allow a united Cyprus to enter the EU on 1 May this year. It is in the interest of all with a stake in Cyprus to work for a settlement by 1 May.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to (a) the new government in northern Cyprus and (b) Turkey over the need for a census to be conducted in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

Denis MacShane: holding answer 15 January 2004
	We believe that the UNSG's proposals (the Annan Plan) satisfactorily take into account the issues underlying calls for a census. It is difficult to see the useful purpose that a census at the present time would serve, nor how the necessary delay in organising it would advance matters. I was impressed in talks with the Turkish Government in Ankara last week at the new positive approach to finding a solution based on the Annan proposals.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the elections in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R]

Denis MacShane: holding answer 15 January 2004
	I welcome the fact that a coalition government has now formed in northern Cyprus and that the coalition's stated aim is to work for a settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan Plan by 1 May. That is what the majority of the Turkish Cypriot population voted for on 14 December 2003. We continue to believe that the UN Secretary General's proposals offer the only realistic basis for a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement. All sides must now commit to resume substantive settlement negotiations on the basis of these proposals as soon as possible, in line with the requirements set down by the UN Secretary General in his report of 1 April 2003.

Euro

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear the Government's position on EMU on many occasions in 2003. These included a speech on 23 October 2003 to the Chester/Ellesmere/North Wales Chamber of Commerce, which I am sending to my hon. Friend. In addition to published texts, the Foreign Secretary frequently answers questions on this issue during the course of all kinds of public discussions.

Germany

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason extra security has been put in place around the British Embassy in Berlin; when it was put in place; what the total cost of these measures has been since they were implemented; and who is meeting the cost of this extra security.

Bill Rammell: Immediately after the attack on the British Consulate-General in Istanbul, all diplomatic missions were instructed to review their security urgently and, where appropriate, implement security enhancements. In addition, those missions with a high level of threat or vulnerability sought additional protection from the host government.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) cannot disclose, under Exemption l (a) and 4 (e) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information the specific security measures in place at the British Embassy in Berlin but such costs would normally be met from FCO budgets.

Hong Kong

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Hong Kong.

Bill Rammell: We continue to follow developments in Hong Kong closely, in line with our responsibilities as a co-signatory to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary continues to report regularly to Parliament on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The last such report (Cmnd 5864) was issued in July 2003 and is available in the Library of the House. We continue to assess that, generally, the One Country, Two Systems policy enshrined in the Joint Declaration is working well in practice.
	The main political issue in Hong Kong is currently constitutional reform. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) contains provisions on constitutional development, with the ultimate aims being the selection of the Chief Executive and election of all members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage. On 1 January up to 100,000 people participated in a march to call for greater democracy in Hong Kong.
	On 7 January the Chief Executive announced the setting up of a Task Force, headed by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to examine the Basic Law's provisions on constitutional reform and to consult the Chinese Central People's Government on these issues. On 14 January the Chief Secretary issued a paper setting out the Work Plan of the Task Force. This makes clear that the Task Force will be carrying forward discussions with the Hong Kong people while consulting the Central People's Government on issues pertaining to the Basic Law.
	When I was in Hong Kong in December I reiterated our position on this issue, that we hope to see early progress towards the Basic Law's ultimate aim of universal suffrage, at a pace in step with the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.

Imad Hage

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the last 12 months from Mr. Imad Hage.

Denis MacShane: We have no record of any official representations from Mr. Imad Hage to the Foreign Secretary during the last 12 months.

Imad Hage

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have held during 2003 with Mr. Imad Hage.

Denis MacShane: We have no record of any official meetings between officials or Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Mr. Imad Hage.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities in advance of the court hearing scheduled for 7 January, concerning the proposed demolition of the peace centre called Beit Arabiya in the West Bank village of Anata.

Denis MacShane: None.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) settlement buildings, (b) movement restrictions on Palestinians, (c) planning regulations, (d) rules of residence and (e) construction of the separation wall on the extent to which Israel is fulfilling its responsibilities towards the character and status of Jerusalem under UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 267, 476 and 478; and what representations he is making on the issue.

Denis MacShane: The Government have repeatedly said that neither side should take unilateral action that could prejudge the status of Jersualem. We regard the status of Jerusalem as still to be determined in permanent status negotiations between the parties. Pending agreement, we recognise de facto Israeli authority over West Jerusalem but consider East Jerusalem to be occupied territory. We recognise no sovereignty over the city.
	We consider the building of settlements on occupied land to be unlawful. We have regularly called on Israel to fulfil its roadmap commitment to freeze all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements) and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. We have also urged Israel to improve the humanitarian situation by lifting curfews and easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods.
	We understand Israel's need to take steps, within international law, to protect itself from terrorist attack. But we have made clear that we regard the route of the wall that Israel is building on occupied Palestinian land as unlawful. The decision to declare the land between the fence and the Green Line a closed zone and require those Palestinians who live on or farm it to apply for a permit to access their land is a matter of particular concern.
	My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have raised these issues with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean has also raised these issues with the Israeli Government in Tel Aviv and with the Israeli Ambassador in London. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations to the Israeli Ambassador, most recently on 10 December 2003.

Management Consultants

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Expenditure on external consultants in general is reported annually in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Departmental Report, available in the Library of the House and on the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk. Expenditure specifically on management consultants is not categorised separately and could be established only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure on external consultants for the last five years has been:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 15.8 
			 199899 14.5 
			 19992000 14 
			 200001 17.9 
			 200102 20.1 
		
	
	Expenditure for 200203 is not yet available, but will be included in the next Departmental Report due to be published in spring 2004.
	The vast majority of our expenditure on external consultants is associated with our major Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Estate Construction programmes. Consultants also advise on legal, financial and personnel issues and provide support in areas where we have skills shortages. Increasing expenditure over recent years is largely associated with the growth of our ICT programme which is being used to support change in the organisation.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) purchasing policy follows the Government's Public Purchasing Consolidated Guidelines which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and that they should be acquired by competition unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.
	In the UK the FCO has not agreed any contracts for the provision of IT or call centre services operated outside this country, nor are there any plans to do so.

Saudi Arabia

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received from Saudi Arabian officials concerning plans to attack British Airways flights (a) over Saudi Arabia and (b) with light aircraft registered in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We liaise closely with the Saudi Government on security issues, including those relating to aviation security. Information received in confidence from the Saudi Government is exempt from disclosure under Exemption l(c) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We do not disclose the details of exchanges on security issues, as it is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence and security matters. The security and intelligence agencies are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Paragraph 6, Part 1).

Sudan

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been collated by his Department on whether the Eritrean authorities are arming Sudanese rebels in the Darfur region; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of accusations made by the Government of Sudan of Eritrean involvement in the conflict in Darfur, and are in contact with both governments on this matter.
	We hope that peace in Sudan will help bring stability and prosperity to the entire Greater Horn region, and are encouraging both sides to work to improve relations.

Sunset Clauses

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the need for sunset clauses on legislative proposals brought forward by the European Commission.

Denis MacShane: The Government believe that review clauses and sunsetting should be included in European legislation where appropriate. The Cabinet Office Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment asks those officials negotiating a Directive to consider getting a commitment to review in the text of the Directive itself, if it is not feasible or appropriate to have sunsetting. The Cabinet Office Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment is available on the Cabinet Office website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/scrutiny/ria-guidance.

Taiwan

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom monitors cross-Straits relations closely.
	We attach great importance to the avoidance of conflict. We take every appropriate opportunity to convey to the Chinese Government and, through informal channels, to the Taiwanese Authorities our strong opposition to the use of force or to any action that raises cross-straits tensions.

United Nations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions since 1975 when the vote cast by the United Kingdom has been diametrically opposed to that of the United States in the UN Security Council; and what percentage of votes this represents.

Bill Rammell: The UK has made a positive vote in the Security Council when the US has voted negatively on the following 28 occasions since 1975:
	11 August 1975: Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam
	11 August 1975: Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam
	30 Sept 1975: Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam
	30 Sept 1975: Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam
	8 Dec 1975: Situation in the Middle East
	25 March 1976: Situation in occupied Arab territories
	23 June 1976: Application for membership for Angola
	15 Nov 1976: Application for membership for Socialist Republic of Vietnam
	2 April 1982: Situation in occupied Arab territories
	20 April 1982: Situation in occupied Arab territories
	8 June 1982: Israeli invasion of Lebanon
	26 June 1982: Israeli invasion of Lebanon
	2 August 1983: Situation in occupied Arab territories
	6 Sept 1984: Israeli occupation of Lebanon
	30 Jan1986: Provocative acts in relation to Al Aqsa Mosque
	1 Feb 1988: Situation in the occupied territories
	15 April 1988: Situation in the occupied territories
	10 May 1988: Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon
	14 Dec 1988: Israeli raid on Lebanon
	17 Feb 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	9 June 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	7 Nov 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	31 May 1990: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	17 May 1995: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	7 March 1997: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	21 March 1997: Situation in the occupied Arab territories
	30 June 2002: Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
	20 Dec 2002: Situation in the Middle East
	There have been no occasions since 1975 when the US has voted positively on a resolution which the UK has voted against. The 28 votes listed above represent around 2.3 per cent. of the 1,238 votes on substantive resolutions which have either been adopted or vetoed since 1975. In the same period, there were 23 occasions in which the UK voted positively and the US abstained, and 21 occasions when the UK abstained and the US voted against. There have been no occasions since 1975 when the UK abstained and the US voted positively, or the UK voted against and the US abstained. Exact figures for the total number of votes (including those, for example, on procedural issues) which have taken place in the Security Council are not readily available.

USA (Visas)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration about the introduction of visa charges for British citizens who visit the United States of America.

Mike O'Brien: There have been no recent changes to charges for US visas for British citizens. However, we are in close consultation with the US on the introduction of biometric travel documents, and how this will affect entry in to the United States for British passport holders after 26 October 2004.

Western Sudan

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what measures the Government are taking to re-establish and support the Chadian-led peace negotiations following the breakdown of peace talks on Darfur, Western Sudan;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to encourage the Government of Sudan to agree to (a) the presence of international observers at peace talks on the conflict in Darfur, Western Sudan and (b) the inclusion of the Justice Equality Movement and militias at the negotiations.

Chris Mullin: We remain extremely concerned at the humanitarian situation in Darfur. We are in contact with all parties, including the Government of Sudan at senior level, to press for the re-establishment of a ceasefire, preferably with international monitoring, which would permit humanitarian access to those in need and lead to talks about how the problems of Darfur can best be addressed.

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa regarding the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja from 5 to 7 December 2003. We and our High Commissioner in South Africa are in regular dialogue with the South African Government on the issue.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Cannabis (Recategorisation)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of the forthcoming recategorisation of cannabis in (a) London and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Cannabis is a harmful drug and it will remain illegal to produce, supply or possess it following reclassification as a Class C drug on 29 January. The presumption against using the power of arrest for simple cannabis possession offences committed by those aged 18 or over, following reclassification, will save police time and provide them with an opportunity to focus greater resources on priority areas like tackling Class A drug supply offences.

Fireworks Regulations (Enforcement)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police forces in respect of enforcement of new regulations to control fireworks.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department for Trade and Industry regulations prohibiting the possession of fireworks, in public places, by those under the age of 18 and the possession of category 4 fireworks (professional display fireworks) by the general public have now come into force.
	The Home Office will be writing to Chief Police Officers shortly with details of these new powers.

Anti-Social Behaviour Act

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 on (a) graffiti and (b) fly-posting will be introduced.

Hazel Blears: On 20 January we will be publishing a Guide to the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 which will give the dates when these measures will be commenced. The powers on graffiti will be commenced on 31 March 2004, those on fly posting on 20 January 2004.

Local Authority Finance (Police)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on increases in police precept by local authorities in 200405.

Hazel Blears: Police authority precepts are a matter for each police authority. We expect all police authorities to assess their local needs carefully, taking into account local views on service and budget levels. We also expect authorities to exercise restraint in setting budgets and precepts as the current trend in council tax increases is unsustainable.

Police Budgets (East Anglia)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet chief constables from East Anglia to discuss policing budgets for 200405.

Hazel Blears: I have no current plans to meet chief constables from East Anglia. I have received written representations on the provisional grant funding settlement from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. These will be fully taken into account in decisions on the final settlement.
	The setting of budgets and precepts are matters for police authorities. We expect police authorities to ensure that their decisions will not place excessive burdens on the local council tax payer.

Child Trafficking

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to combat the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children within the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Sexual Offences Act 2003 includes offences which criminalise trafficking into, within and out of the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. The Act also introduces a wider range of offences covering the sexual exploitation of children. The Asylum and Immigration Bill includes a new offence of trafficking for purposes other than sexual exploitation.

Reducing Crime, Changing Lives

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the plans contained in the report Reducing Crime, Changing Lives will be the subject of parliamentary scrutiny.

Hazel Blears: The chief executive of the National Offender Management Service will be accountable to Ministers for reducing re-offending and delivering other agreed outcomes from the new service. Ministers will of course remain accountable to parliament for the service. Some of the reforms proposed in Reducing CrimeChanging Lives are likely to require legislation to be passed by parliament.

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested through powers exercised under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; how long the detention lasted in each case; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Individuals who are detained under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCS) are not arrested. They are detained under Immigration powers pursuant to a certificate issued under Part 4 of the ATCS Act 2001, pending their removal from the United Kingdom.
	In terms of numbers, I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 November 2003, Official Report, column 27WS. No further certifications or detentions made since then.
	Under the other 12 Parts of the ATCS Act, Home Office records show that there have been 24 convictions under Part 5 (Racial and Religious Hatred) of the Act. Arrest figures for Part 5 of the Act and figures for the length of time each individual is detained are not held centrally. In addition, six people have been arrested under Part 13 of the Act (Miscellaneous provisions including noxious substances; hoaxes involving noxious substances; failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism and terrorist training).

Asylum Appeals

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to give a substantive reply to the question, reference 143845, concerning asylum and immigration cases heard in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, tabled by the hon. Member for Woking on 9 December 2003.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 January 2004
	I replied to the hon. Member on 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 754.

Asylum Seekers

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many failed asylum seekers were returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many failed asylum seekers were returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many applicants for asylum there were from the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last six years; and how many and what percentage of applications were accepted.

Beverley Hughes: Estimates of the number of nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed between January 1997 and June 2003 are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing 'voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	
		Removals and voluntary(8) departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): January 1997 to June 2003 (9),(10),(11)
		
			 Nationality 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 January to June 2003 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 60 20 n/a n/a 20 35 10 
		
	
	(8) Includes persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(9) Figures rounded to the nearest five with * = 1 or 2.
	(10) Data have been estimated due to data quality issues
	(11) Provisional figures
	n/a not available
	Information on the destination of removals is not available.
	Current advice from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is that it is not safe to return nationals to the Democratic Republic of Congo other than to Kinshasa.

Asylum Seekers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of asylum seekers in each country of the United Kingdom had achieved, prior to their entry into the UK, professional qualifications or their equivalent in (a) nursing, (b) medicine, (c) dentistry and (d) teaching in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of asylum seekers in each country of the United Kingdom had gained prior to their entry into the UK (a) higher education qualifications or their equivalent, (b) professional qualifications or their equivalent and (c) secondary level qualifications or their equivalent in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Data on the qualifications which asylum seekers had obtained prior to entry are not recorded and collated centrally, and could therefore only be obtained from individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Information on asylum statistics is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum Seekers

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on detaining asylum seekers with children whose application for asylum has been denied.

Beverley Hughes: After an application for asylum has been refused a family with children may be detained if there is a considered risk of non-compliance with the conditions of temporary admission or release, or to effect removal.

Asylum Seekers

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive response to the question relating to funding due to Kent county council in respect of asylum seekers, ref 144468, tabled by the hon. Member for North Thanet on 12 December and transferred to his Department by the Treasury for named day answer on 16 December 2003.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 8 January 2004
	I replied to the hon. Member on 15 January 2004.

Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Board Website

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date the Cleveland local criminal justice board website will contain some information.

Paul Goggins: The Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Boards website is currently under construction and will be populated with information by 23 January 2004.

CPS

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service's Racially Aggravated and Religiously Aggravated Crime Policy.

Harriet Harman: The question has been passed to me for reply as the Law Officers are responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
	The CPS policy on racist and religious crime was launched on 14 July 2003 and was developed with criminal justice partners and in consultation with over 120 local and national groups, including representatives of faith and black and minority ethnic communities.
	The policy clearly sets out the CPS stance on prosecuting racist and religious crime and emphasises the need to prosecute cases firmly, fairly and robustly. The aim is to contribute to improving public confidence in the criminal justice system and, it is hoped, to bring more offenders to justice.
	In delivering training to underpin the policy, the CPS has involved members of the community and the police to assist prosecutors in understanding the issues and underline the impact on communities of such crime.

CPS

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service Merseyside Community Engagement Programme.

Harriet Harman: The question has been passed to me for reply as the Law Officers are responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
	CPS Merseyside is heavily involved in a range of community engagement initiatives. These include talks to schools and colleges, mentoring students from the black and minority ethnic communities, and contributing to conferences arranged to obtain the views of a variety of community groups. Two conferences are scheduled in January. The Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Merseyside also arranges for representatives of relevant communities to address his staff during training courses so that they can describe the effects of crime on their lives and explain how the criminal justice agencies can better meet their needs.
	The area is currently updating its community engagement strategy to draw together the initiatives in which it is involved.

Dangerous Offenders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of sentences that (a) are poorly targeted and (b) do not bear down sufficiently on dangerous offenders.

Paul Goggins: Decisions on the targeting of sentences are for the courts, based on the full facts of individual cases. However, the Government is determined to ensure that sentences delivered are appropriate to offences committed. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduces a range of new sentences so that courts have a full range of options at their disposal in order to deal with offences and offenders appropriately.
	These include the new Generic Community Sentence, which will allow judges and magistrates to choose specific elements (such as drug rehabilitation, unpaid work, curfew) that best suit the profiles of individual offenders and crimes.
	The Act also enhances protection for the public from dangerous offenders. It introduces new indeterminate sentences for use where an offender is considered to pose a significant risk to the public. These sentences will ensure that an offender may be kept in custody for as long as he or she is considered to pose a threat to the public. If the risk posed decreases over time, the offender will become eligible for release once the period specified by the court as the minimum necessary for punitive purposes has been served.
	In addition, to promote consistency in sentencing between courts, the Act set up the Sentencing Guidelines Council, an independent body chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. The Council's role is to produce guidelines for the courts on the most appropriate and best-targeted sentence for different types of offence.

Human Trafficking

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of human trafficking were detected in 2002.

Beverley Hughes: Forming an accurate estimate of the levels of trafficking in people is problematic because of the secretive and hidden nature of the act. There are currently no accurate, reliable data in existence within the UK or the European Union. A Home Office research study Stopping Traffic (Police Research Series 125, published in 2000), indicated that there was intelligence to suggest that some women and children are trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This was estimated at between 140 and 1,400 per year but it was not possible to say how accurate this estimate is. The report concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that this was on a large scale in the UK compared with other European countries.
	However, due to the very serious nature of the crime, in 2000, the Government set up a multi-agency taskforce called Reflex to co-ordinate the operational response to tackling organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and the smuggling of people into the UK. Since April 2003, there have been 14 significant disruptions (26 in total) and from these 37 convictions for related offences.
	The Government have also introduced specific criminal sanctions covering traffickers. We have acted quickly to deal with the worst forms of exploitation by creating an offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution within the Nationality, Immigration, and Asylum Act 2002. More comprehensive offences concerning trafficking into, out of and within the UK for all forms of sexual exploitation are included in the Sexual Offences Act which received Royal Assent in November 2003. A new offence covering trafficking for forced labour and removal of organs is included in the Asylum and Immigration Bill, currently before Parliament. All of these offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years.

Immigrant Surcharge

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his plans to introduce a 500 surcharge on immigrants to the UK includes those entering to study at English language schools; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: No decisions have yet been made about the level of the fees. The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is required to provide a range of fees for indicative purposes only. The upper limit of that range, 500, does not signify that the Government intends, as some newspapers suggested, to set fees at that level.
	The enabling power is the first stage of a two stage process. The second part of the process is to undertake a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and wider consultation with key stakeholders. Following this consultation, decisions regarding fee levels, scope and timing of introduction can then be made taking these views fully into account.

Immigration Appeals

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of immigration and asylum appeals before adjudicators his Department was (a) represented by Home Office Presenting Officers, (b) represented by Counsel and (c) not represented in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: For the 12 month period to August 2003 the level of representation for Presenting Officers and Counsel when taken together was 72 per cent. This relatively low level of representation was caused, in large part, by difficulties in recruiting Presenting Officers, particularly in the London area. The level of representation will increase early in 2004 as up to 65 newly recruited Presenting Officers complete their training and take up their posts.

Immigration Control (Vehicle Checks)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) lorries and (b) other vehicles passing through Dover from France were not checked in Dover for purposes of seeking to discover illegal immigrants in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Approximately 2,500 lorries arrive at Dover every day on board cross channel ferries. Port authorities and operators in both Calais and Dunkerque check all lorries entering their port and again using UK supplied New Detection Technology (NDT) before lorries board ferries for the UK.
	As it is clearly more effective to have searched lorries before they embark on ferries to the UK than on arrival at Dover lorries are selected for search by Immigration Service search teams only on an intelligence-led basis employing known profiles of vehicles used in people smuggling. Other vehicles such as private cars and vans are systematically checked in France by agents acting for the ferry operator.
	Again, targeted checks by Immigration Officers are carried out on arrival at Dover.

Muslim Converts to Christianity

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded cases of (a) assault and (b) murder have occurred in the UK over the past five years of members of the Islamic faith who have converted to Christianity.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is not available centrally.

Police Arms Recoveries

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) legal guns, (b) illegal guns and (c) knives have been recovered by the police investigating crimes in the last year.

Hazel Blears: This information is not available in the form requested. The National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database launched in November 2003 will provide a central database of seized firearms and help trace guns used in crimes and improve detection.

Police Cells

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the cost was of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002;
	(2)  how many prisoners have been held in police cells so far in 2003.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Prisoners are not routinely held in police cells as a result of overcrowding. When population pressures result in police cells being used, it is under an arrangement between the Prison Service and the police called Operation Safeguard. Operation Safeguard has not been used since 2002 (between 11 July and 20 December 2002).
	The average daily cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell during 2002 was 363 per person per night. The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002 was 10.4 million.
	There are occasions where prisoners have to be accommodated in police cells because the escort contractor cannot deliver them to the receiving prison before its reception closes. There is an on-going arrangement with many police forces, known as Lock-outs. These are entirely separate arrangements from Operation Safeguard. This arrangement is sometimes used to facilitate the return of prisoners to court the next day or when a court hearing extends into the evening. The average daily cost of holding a prisoner on Lock-out is currently 120 per person per night. The total cost for Lock-outs in 2002 was 1.356 million.
	The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells under both Operation Safeguard and Lock-outs in 2002 was 11.756 million.
	No prisoners were held under Operation Safeguard in 2003. There were a total of 982 prisoners held in police cells as Lock-outs in 2003. In addition, eight prisoners were held in police cells in the Greater Manchester area on the weekend of 78 June 2003, as an emergency measure, following a disturbance at HMP Whealstun, which resulted in a temporary loss of accommodation at the establishment. These prisoners were not held under arrangements for Operation Safeguard or as Lock-outs.

Police Time

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of a police officer's time on average was spent on (a) patrol and (b) dealing with paperwork in the last year for which figures are available.

David Blunkett: Figures collected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary show that, in 200203 the number of officers allocated to patrol duties was 63,426. However, we know that there is significant variation between forces in the amount of time officers spend on front line duties, including patrol. We are, as part of the Police Performance Assessment Framework, collecting data from forces so that we can publish a baseline estimate of front line policing for all forces. This will be a valuable tool to drive up the amount of time spent on front line duties.
	We remain committed to tackling administrative burdens and inefficient practices in the police service. Sir David O'Dowd's Taskforce was commissioned to give the Government a police service view of what could be done to tackle the administrative burdens and inefficient practices which keep police officers off the streets. The Taskforce report, published in September 2002, highlighted ways of freeing up significant amounts of officers' time. Among the achievements to date, more than 4,600 forms in 21 forces are now obsolete and all 43 forces now have the capacity to undertake video identity parades. The national roll out of the fixed penalty notice scheme is scheduled for completion by April 2004. Other initiatives are contributing to the reducing burden on police officers. In addition, there is a major Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Thematic inspection on Civilianisation/The use of non-sworn staff due to report April/May 2004. 8 million has been set aside this financial year for workforce modernisation projects, the criteria for which include the release of officers for front line duties.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total prison capacity has been in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The annual average usable operational capacity for prisons in England and Wales from 1997 to 2003 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Useable operational capability 
		
		
			 1997 61,900 
			 1998 67,800 
			 1999 68,100 
			 2000 69,000 
			 2001 69,400 
			 2002 71,500 
			 2003 74,300

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners in prisons in each of the next 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The most recent projections of the prison population are presented in the Home Office Prison Population Brief, England and Wales, April 2003 (issued September 2003). These present the four scenarios A, B, C, D for the short-term projection (up to March 2005) and the two central scenarios B and C for the long-term projection (up to 2009). There are no higher (A) and lower (D) scenarios for these long-term projections.
	The projections are as follows:
	
		Short term
		
			  End of March 2004 End of March 2005 
		
		
			 Scenario A 75,900 82,300 
			 Scenario B 75,600 81,700 
			 Scenario C 74,700 81,100 
			 Scenario D 74,500 80,600 
		
	
	
		Long Term (as at end of June)
		
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
		
		
			 Scenario B 73,900 77,000 82,900 88,000 89,500 91,100 92,400 
			 Scenario C 73,700 76,200 81,500 87,200 88,700 90,300 91,600 
		
	
	Future prison population projections will take into consideration the impact of the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and proposals included in the Reducing CrimeChanging Lives report.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new remand unit at Winchester will be ready to receive the first prisoners.

Paul Goggins: The construction of the new remand unit at HMP Winchester is complete, and it is expected to receive its first prisoners in April 2004. This is subject to the installation of ancillary provisions such as new fences, reception, and gate entry systems.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have been sent to Holloway prison in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The number of young people held in Holloway prison at the end of June of each year from 1997 to 2003 is given in the table below. Young people are defined as those aged under 21, but may include some 21 year olds who were under 21 at conviction but have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.
	
		
			 Year 
		
		
			 1997 67 
			 1998 57 
			 1999 82 
			 2000 85 
			 2001 51 
			 2002 70 
			 2003 59

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated to Holloway prison for young offenders in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: There are no specific budget allocations made by the Prison Service to cover young offenders (aged 1821) held at establishments including Holloway prison. The total budget issued to each prison covers all inmates and makes no distinction between adults and young offenders. The juvenile estate (prisoners aged under 18) receives separately identified and monitored budgets from the Youth Justice Board.
	However, it is acknowledged that there are additional funding requirements relating to young offenders because of physical security considerations and educational needs. It is the responsibility of the Governor of each establishment and the Area Manager to determine how these requirements are met out of the total budget available.
	The Prison Service's Annual Report and Accounts for 2002/03, printed on 15 July 2003, contains details of the costs of all prison establishments including those holding young offenders.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers were serving at each (a) prison and (b) remand centre, disaggregated by sex, in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The information available is contained in the following tables. The figures include prison officers, senior officers and principal officers. Information on officer numbers broken down by gender and location is not available prior to March 1998.
	In those establishments which hold both remand and convicted prisoners, it is not possible to disaggregate the staffing numbers attached to each. The data represents a snapshot staffing level on the date of data capture. It does not take account of new staff who were in the recruitment process at that time. Staffing levels in prison establishments can be affected by a number of factors, including, for example, prisoner numbers, the opening of new accommodation, the temporary closure of accommodation for refurbishment, change to role and function, and changes to working practices.
	
		Officer numbers by establishment and gender 31 March 1998 to 31 December 2003
		
			  310398 301198 311299 31122000 
			 Establishment Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 Acklington 203 9 178 3 211 9 205 9 
			 Aldington 42 3 39 3 
			 Albany 156 7 161 7 150 6 144 4 
			 Ashwell 103 15 101 10 101 16 96 14 
			 Askham Grange 7 23 80 20 8 21 8 21 
			 Aylesbury 174 18 148 14 160 22 144 28 
			 Bedford 158 14 162 8 145 18 147 17 
			 Belmarsh 475 77 464 66 456 86 433 94 
			 Birmingham 310 28 319 28 318 33 300 29 
			 Blakenhurst 
			 Blantyre House 30 3 31 3 33 2 30 3 
			 Blundeston 156 8 157 7 151 8 156 8 
			 Brinsford 154 37 160 37 171 41 178 39 
			 Bristol 298 27 298 24 281 28 270 33 
			 Brixton 288 50 281 37 272 54 253 50 
			 Brockhill 54 32 58 25 52 40 50 43 
			 Buckley Hall   72 40 
			 Bullingdon 199 53 205 41 205 48 200 55 
			 Bullwood Hall 24 53 22 48 27 54 25 52 
			 Camp Hill 146 8 146 8 148 10 139 11 
			 Canterbury 127 5 129 4 122 6 118 4 
			 Cardiff 241 8 234 8 232 9 226 9 
			 Castington 155 10 127 3 177 21 190 23 
			 Channings Wood 141 14 141 14 134 17 137 19 
			 Chelmsford 171 15 170 15 171 19 171 29 
			 Coldingley 90 7 89 10 89 9 84 9 
			 Cookham Wood 16 39 15 39 13 41 12 43 
			 Dartmoor 246 12 242 10 237 12 227 13 
			 Deerbolt 153 9 145 6 151 10 144 11 
			 Dorchester 79 9 79 9 77 10 78 9 
			 Dover(12) 105 6 108 4 111 5 107 8 
			 Downview 101 21 103 19 101 24 100 24 
			 Drake Hall 14 49 14 48 16 47 20 45 
			 Durham 357 77 361 59 350 76 359 77 
			 East Sutton Park 8 16 7 15 6 18 4 19 
			 Eastwood Park 36 63 36 56 42 80 36 75 
			 Edmunds Hill 
			 Elmley 229 47 224 40 230 49 230 55 
			 Erlestoke 91 4 89 4 95 4 95 7 
			 Everthorpe 121 10 120 9 125 11 122 9 
			 Exeter 183 7 182 6 175 10 167 12 
			 Featherstone 143 13 143 13 145 14 140 12 
			 Feltham 290 50 297 42 282 59 324 63 
			 Ford 60 3 61 1 60 4 58 5 
			 Foston Hall 17 43 18 37 21 47 26 59 
			 Frankland 435 57 411 50 458 58 445 53 
			 Full Sutton 447 55 442 48 451 50 448 60 
			 Garth 222 32 222 32 222 34 216 37 
			 Gartree 136 18 140 14 138 16 137 17 
			 Glen Parva 256 16 278 18 259 26 253 24 
			 Gloucester 122 11 122 11 120 11 122 11 
			 Grendon 158 38 127 35 132 38 133 42 
			 Guys Marsh 112 14 109 12 113 18 113 18 
			 Haslar(12) 47 3 46 2 47 3 45 4 
			 Hatfield 47 2 52 1 44 2 42 3 
			 Haverigg 126 22 126 18 115 20 113 23 
			 Hewell Grange 26 1 27 1 25 2 26 2 
			 High Down 330 68 254 53 238 55 240 61 
			 Highpoint 169 1 162 56 178 59 176 67 
			 Hindley 193 21 195 18 196 21 192 22 
			 Hollesley Bay 139 4 147 4 129 5 143 13 
			 Holloway 82 219 84 215 71 225 72 213 
			 Holme House 278 35 280 32 276 32 277 32 
			 Hull 243 14 243 11 228 20 224 16 
			 Huntercombe 120 18 100 16 121 24 123 35 
			 Kingston 72 2 73 2 72 5 69 5 
			 Kirkham 77 7 79 8 79 7 80 6 
			 Kirklevington Grange 42 2 40 2 38 2 36 1 
			 Lancaster 83 5 84 4 84 6 84 6 
			 Lancaster Farms 164 21 164 18 172 26 178 27 
			 Latchmere House 32 6 29 8 34 7 32 5 
			 Leeds 399 47 400 43 396 52 389 50 
			 Leicester 164 15 171 12 148 12 143 15 
			 Lewes 193 14 196 14 194 12 184 12 
			 Leyhill 63 7 66 5 60 11 57 11 
			 Lincoln 225 9 230 8 220 13 216 11 
			 Lindholme 170 8 170 8 168 10 177 16 
			 Littlehey 148 16 150 12 143 22 137 23 
			 Liverpool 537 48 545 43 545 53 519 51 
			 Long Lartin 355 51 322 32 349 58 344 64 
			 Low Newton 86 45 98 22 63 60 60 61 
			 Maidstone 172 22 178 23 173 20 169 21 
			 Manchester 504 75 510 69 486 75 457 70 
			 Moorland 240 32 239 31 238 34 232 37 
			 Morton Hall 32  30 1 30  31 25 
			 New Hall 49 86 45 82 45 86 44 97 
			 North Sea Camp 29 3 31 2 28 4 29 4 
			 Northallerton 77 10 80 12 75 9 77 11 
			 Norwich 220 25 218 24 213 30 216 27 
			 Nottingham 166 12 157 9 165 13 164 14 
			 Onley 187 21 179 21 197 36 197 40 
			 Parkhurst 189 15 193 14 186 13 189 16 
			 Pentonville 335 52 336 50 323 45 319 59 
			 Portland 157 5 155 5 154 12 165 14 
			 Preston 271 15 278 16 269 16 255 16 
			 Ranby 189 17 151 13 188 20 189 19 
			 Reading 116 15 112 9 112 16 115 14 
			 Risley 240 79 261 100 227 70 221 71 
			 Rochester 143 14 151 14 154 18 151 18 
			 Send 22 47 51 7 24 41 30 43 
			 Shepton Mallet 66 5 68 4 70 4 68 4 
			 Shrewsbury 114 9 112 9 111 9 109 11 
			 Stafford 188 14 191 13 175 16 173 16 
			 Standford Hill 81 4 66 4 79 4 73 6 
			 Stocken 127 13 115 9 128 16 128 13 
			 Stoke Heath 153 25 157 28 173 33 184 35 
			 Styal 62 111 38 78 72 114 69 107 
			 Sudbury 64 3 64 3 65 3 63 3 
			 Swaleside 168 42 186 34 187 52 191 51 
			 Swansea 127 4 127 4 126 6 122 7 
			 Swinfen Hall 116 12 111 11 120 15 116 14 
			 The Mount 117 22 115 21 133 27 130 32 
			 The Verne 123 5 124 5 125 6 117 6 
			 Thorn Cross 92 13 93 13 98 15 100 16 
			 Usk/Prescoed 80 3 81 4 83 2 84 3 
			 Wakefield 374 17 386 16 361 21 352 24 
			 Wandsworth 368 67 343 43 365 66 354 69 
			 Warren Hill 
			 Wayland 138 12 136 12 139 18 130 19 
			 Wealstun 131 16 135 15 132 18 129 19 
			 Weare 109 15 110 15 112 13 113 14 
			 Wellingborough 98 15 93 17 128 34 120 33 
			 Werrington 75 8 67 5 73 10 69 11 
			 Wetherby 126 21 124 23 130 25 128 24 
			 Whatton 71 5 70 5 73 6 65 6 
			 Whitemoor 416 70 421 59 389 62 409 69 
			 Winchester 194 23 218 31 188 25 186 25 
			 Woodhill 351 81 349 74 342 85 345 100 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 335 54 347 53 300 50 300 56 
			 Wymott 190 28 202 27 188 30 181 32 
			 Establishments total 20,641 3,276 20,460 2,885 20,329 3,516 20,128 3,747 
		
	
	
		
			  311201 311202 311203 
			 Establishment Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 Acklington 196 10 185 12 205 22 
			 Aldington   
			 Albany 141 4 134 6 139 9 
			 Ashwell 89 12 86 15 92 19 
			 Askham Grange 8 20 5 24 6 26 
			 Aylesbury 136 30 139 29 126 33 
			 Bedford 128 16 113 16 115 19 
			 Belmarsh 422 98 418 94 424 97 
			 Birmingham 268 23 285 30 424 70 
			 Blakenhurst 139 33 124 38 133 45 
			 Blantyre House 31 3 32 3 30 4 
			 Blundeston 149 8 141 9 137 12 
			 Brinsford 186 42 188 45 181 50 
			 Bristol 261 31 251 31 233 31 
			 Brixton 221 47 201 42 194 36 
			 Brockhill 47 44 46 50 47 52 
			 Buckley Hall 67 36 61 46 52 53 
			 Bullingdon 187 55 165 61 163 56 
			 Bullwood Hall 21 52 21 55 24 58 
			 Camp Hill 139 11 135 12 135 14 
			 Canterbury 115 6 111 8 102 8 
			 Cardiff 216 9 219 12 223 16 
			 Castington 190 23 183 23 177 24 
			 Channings Wood 134 19 141 20 144 23 
			 Chelmsford 163 30 164 32 152 28 
			 Coldingley 83 10 80 14 81 13 
			 Cookham Wood 11 39 11 40 13 48 
			 Dartmoor 211 12 188 9 161 9 
			 Deerbolt 134 9 144 14 159 16 
			 Dorchester 74 9 74 8 82 5 
			 Dover(12) 101 8 105 5 105 5 
			 Downview 69 31 38 60 47 59 
			 Drake Hall 20 54 21 67 23 69 
			 Durham 340 77 341 77 331 84 
			 East Sutton Park 4 20 6 18 4 21 
			 Eastwood Park 39 77 36 79 46 81 
			 Edmunds Hill 36 50 34 49 39 85 
			 Elmley 214 55 218 58 197 52 
			 Erlestoke 86 7 87 12 97 20 
			 Everthorpe 110 9 104 11 113 13 
			 Exeter 163 12 161 13 169 22 
			 Featherstone 126 11 132 11 125 14 
			 Feltham 296 52 308 66 348 91 
			 Ford 56 5 56 6 55 8 
			 Foston Hall 23 57 25 64 20 81 
			 Frankland 429 50 427 50 456 56 
			 Full Sutton 427 58 439 61 428 64 
			 Garth 197 37 191 39 186 40 
			 Gartree 128 16 120 19 123 26 
			 Glen Parva 243 22 238 25 232 27 
			 Gloucester 110 12 105 19 97 24 
			 Grendon 126 37 107 41 119 43 
			 Guys Marsh 113 19 111 32 113 29 
			 Haslar(12) 41 4 38 8 43 8 
			 Hatfield 35 4 
			 Haverigg 106 24 101 25 103 28 
			 Hewell Grange 24 4 24 4 25 5 
			 High Down 225 54 211 52 166 53 
			 Highpoint 131 14 138 22 165 13 
			 Hindley 219 29 233 33 222 34 
			 Hollesley Bay 147 14 159 20 42 3 
			 Holloway 69 195 79 169 100 195 
			 Holme House 275 30 279 31 269 36 
			 Hull 223 19 297 41 300 44 
			 Huntercombe 112 35 129 43 116 34 
			 Kingston 63 8 63 10 62 11 
			 Kirkham 77 8 78 8 81 13 
			 Kirklevington Grange 36 1 39 3 42 4 
			 Lancaster 80 6 77 6 71 13 
			 Lancaster Farms 167 27 172 30 185 39 
			 Latchmere House 34 5 32 4 34 4 
			 Leeds 356 49 366 61 359 67 
			 Leicester 126 13 110 13 118 19 
			 Lewes 163 12 159 14 159 13 
			 Leyhill 53 11 55 9 57 11 
			 Lincoln 206 11 205 10 201 13 
			 Lindholme 160 15 175 19 177 20 
			 Littlehey 130 23 124 21 128 25 
			 Liverpool 481 47 469 43 431 32 
			 Long Lartin 321 63 307 62 301 65 
			 Low Newton 57 62 55 71 58 88 
			 Maidstone 163 22 166 28 134 25 
			 Manchester 360 60 355 60 352 71 
			 Moorland 243 38 290 49 290 47 
			 Morton Hall 26 44 34 76 37 80 
			 New Hall 51 103 64 112 70 110 
			 North Sea Camp 30 5 36 5 34 7 
			 Northallerton 61 8 58 9 55 9 
			 Norwich 207 23 206 26 200 27 
			 Nottingham 161 15 157 14 164 19 
			 Onley 191 33 182 39 184 42 
			 Parkhurst 182 16 174 17 173 20 
			 Pentonville 301 59 303 73 311 78 
			 Portland 165 12 153 10 153 18 
			 Preston 233 17 227 18 221 22 
			 Ranby 194 21 202 24 201 29 
			 Reading 115 11 97 13 95 15 
			 Risley 209 65 218 65 223 72 
			 Rochester 139 17 118 23 109 24 
			 Send 29 40 25 36 26 43 
			 Shepton Mallet 58 4 59 6 58 7 
			 Shrewsbury 101 11 96 9 96 13 
			 Stafford 163 14 156 14 150 18 
			 Standford Hill 72 7 69 11 76 17 
			 Stocken 127 12 127 14 136 18 
			 Stoke Heath 193 35 190 37 198 34 
			 Styal 67 109 57 108 58 121 
			 Sudbury 61 1 62 1 63 6 
			 Swaleside 187 50 192 44 190 48 
			 Swansea 119 7 118 7 122 10 
			 Swinfen Hall 114 12 104 16 99 19 
			 The Mount 120 32 112 38 110 38 
			 The Verne 115 8 110 8 106 6 
			 Thorn Cross 98 19 86 19 88 17 
			 Usk/Prescoed 85 3 83 5 85 5 
			 Wakefield 341 21 348 27 340 35 
			 Wandsworth 323 61 315 67 309 67 
			 Warren Hill 121 21 
			 Wayland 124 19 132 20 125 26 
			 Wealstun 128 15 134 19 140 21 
			 Weare 106 17 101 17 99 20 
			 Wellingborough 124 33 108 35 108 33 
			 Werrington 66 12 69 10 68 13 
			 Wetherby 128 22 130 30 136 28 
			 Whatton 64 7 81 8 80 9 
			 Whitemoor 417 66 407 63 412 70 
			 Winchester 178 32 176 32 172 42 
			 Woodhill 322 91 317 96 345 92 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 278 49 252 45 247 58 
			 Wymott 175 29 172 28 187 38 
			 Establishments total 19,254 3,713 19,057 4,043 19,198 4,508 
		
	
	(12) Immigration detention centre.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service at any one prison is of current prison governors.

Paul Goggins: Since January 1999 the average length of tenure across the Service of a Governor in charge of a public sector prison establishment has been 1.9 years. Decisions on the appointment of Governors in HM Prison Service are taken by senior operational managers in the light of operational need.

Shoplifting

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of shoplifting were recorded in each criminal justice area in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: There were 309,397 recorded offences of thefts from shops in England and Wales in the year ending March 2003.

Victim/Witness Support

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to (a) victim support and (b) witness support in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Gloucestershire.

Paul Goggins: Between 199697 and 200203 the Home Office's funding of the organisation Victim Support, which provides support to both victims and witnesses, more than doubled, from 11.7 million to 29.3 million. This year our grant in aid to Victim Support has been increased to 30 million, which represents an increase of 2.4 per cent. Of this, over 26 million will be passed on to local Victim Support schemes, with the balance being used by the Victim Support National Office to provide, amongst other things, a range of central services to its member groups.
	The Victim Support Area of Gloucestershire has been allocated a total of 265,498 by Victim Support National Office under their new Funding Formula for the year 200304. As well as providing funding to Victim Support, the Home Office also provides 572,000 to other organisations supporting victims and witnesses of crime.

Young Offenders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions members of Independent Monitoring Boards have refused to sign off a child being held in a segregation unit in each young offender institution.

Paul Goggins: This information is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Assembly Elections

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of levels of voter turnout at the recent Assembly elections; what research he intends to commission to study the reasons for this; and what measures he is considering adopting to improve turnout.

John Spellar: The turnout for the 2003 Assembly election was 63.1 per cent., which compares to a figure of 68.8 per cent. for the previous Assembly election in 1998.
	The Electoral Commission, which has responsibility for promoting public awareness of electoral matters, held a one-day seminar on the 7 January to hear views from stakeholders about the administration of the Assembly election. The public have also been invited to contact the Commission with their views on the election.
	I understand that the Commission intends to publish a report on the election before the end of April 2004. The report will cover all aspects of the recent election including voter turnout. The Government will study the report carefully when it is received.

Criminal Justice Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the minimum sentence for the murder of (a) a prison officer and (b) a police officer on duty in Northern Ireland is; and if he will make a statement on the relevant provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

John Spellar: The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment. Under the provisions of the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001, the determination of the appropriate minimum period or tariff, which any life sentence prisoner in Northern Ireland must serve in custody before consideration can be given to release, is a matter for judicial discretion. The sentencing judge can set a tariff for a fixed period of years or determine that a whole life tariff would be more appropriate in individual cases.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced in England and Wales a new statutory framework providing for four different starting-points for the judicial determination of minimum terms in mandatory life sentence cases. That framework provides for an initial starting point of 30 years for a person convicted of the murder of a police or prison officer in the course of their duty in England and Wales. Those statutory starting-points may be adjusted upwards or downwards by the sentencing judge, having regard to any relevant aggravating or mitigating factors in the case, to arrive at the minimum term which must be served by the prisoner. On 8 January, I published a consultation paper seeking views on the appropriateness of adopting a similar framework for mandatory life sentences in Northern Ireland. The consultation period extends to 31 March, after which responses will be carefully evaluated and the outcome of the consultation published.

Decommissioning

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received regarding the treatment of General John de Chastelain during the decommissioning act in Northern Ireland on 20 October 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has received no reports regarding the treatment of General de Chastelain during the decommissioning act in October 2003.

Dementia Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans to review dementia services in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: My Department recognises the need to review the policy in relation to people with dementia. Dementia services will therefore be included in the on-going review of mental health and learning disability. Inclusion in the review will mean that dementia will be covered in a comprehensive evaluation of policy and services spanning issues such as health promotion, prevention and early detection of dementia, effectiveness of interventions and broader issues such as human rights and social inclusion.
	An Expert Working Committee on Issues in Old Age has been established and dementia will also be included in its remit, although it is of course recognised that some younger people also have dementia. The working committee has been asked to ensure that it reflects a broad representation of views. The review of mental health and learning disability is not expected to complete its work until mid-2005 but work is in hand to consider how the review recommendations might be phased as sections of the review work are completed.

High Hedges

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what plans he has to extend Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 to Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what action the Government are taking to deal with the problem of high hedges in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Government have no plans for high hedges legislation in Northern Ireland at present.

Hospital Trolley Waits

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2004, Official Report, column 406W, on hospital trolley waits, whether the December statistics represent (a) an estimate for the full month and (b) a total number collected on weekdays only.

Angela Smith: The December trolley wait statistics represent the number of trolley waits recorded in Accident and Emergency departments in Northern Ireland at 9.00am on weekday mornings. These figures show the total number of trolley waits reported by Accident  Emergency Departments at a point in time (9.00am) on week days during December.

Leak Inquiries

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiries his Department has conducted into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and on what occasions the names of those persons accused of leaking information from his Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source.

Paul Murphy: Since 1997, my Department has investigated three suspected leaks. In line with Exemptions l(a) and 7(b) set out in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it has been the practice of successive governments not to comment on the outcome of such inquiries in order to safeguard security and investigative arrangements.
	This reply relates only to inquiries specifically within the Northern Ireland Office and does not cover the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Neurosurgery Waiting Lists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were awaiting neurosurgery (a) inpatient admission and (b) outpatient assessment in Northern Ireland on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The latest available waiting list figures show the position at 30 September 2003, when:
	(a) there were 659 patients awaiting admission to hospital in the neurosurgery specialty;
	(b) there were 354 patients awaiting a first outpatient appointment in the neurosurgery specialty.
	This information is published in the Northern Ireland Waiting List Quarterly Information Release on the first Thursday in March, July, September and December. A copy of this publication is placed in the House of Commons Library or can be obtained from the DHSSPS website, internet address: www. dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/index.html.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Ian Pearson: Procurement Policy in Northern Ireland is based on achieving best value for money while complying with European Community and other international obligations. The 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have not outsourced call centre or IT work to offshore companies in the last two years and have no plans to do so.

Rural White Paper

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a Rural White Paper for Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in consultation with the Rural Stakeholder Forum, has begun a review of rural development policy. A decision on whether or not to produce a Rural White Paper will be considered after that review has been completed.

Water/Sewerage Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress being made with the reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Detailed reform proposals are currently being developed, taking into account the substantial feedback received during last year's public consultation on water reform. The proposals will address the basis on which household water charges will be determined, the most effective public ownership model for water and sewerage services, and the most appropriate consumer representation, and economic and consumer regulation arrangements. These proposals will be subject to a full range of impact assessments, including an equality impact assessment, which I plan to publish for consultation in the spring.
	In tandem with this work, a vigorous reform programme is being developed within water service to deliver efficiencies of up to 45 million per annum by 2010. Implementation of an interim efficiency action plan will result in savings of over 11 million during 200405.

Water/Sewerage Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses he received to his Department's The Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland consultation document; and how many of these responses were (a) in favour and (b) against the introduction of water charging.

John Spellar: A total of 784 written responses were received to the consultation document The Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland published on 11 March 2003.
	The consultation document invited comment on a range of options regarding the basis on which domestic charges should be set. As the consultation document did not seek views on whether water charges should be introduced or not, it is not possible to identify the number of responses (a) in favour or (b) against the introduction of water charging.
	However, approximately 14,500 expressions of general opposition to Water Reform were received by petition, postcard etc.

SCOTLAND

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office has not outsourced any of its IT functions to offshore companies and has no plans to do so.

Universal Bank

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank.

Anne McGuire: I have regular contact with ministerial colleagues and representatives from the industry.
	As a result of discussions with the Government, all of the UK's major banks, including the Scottish clearing banks, are participating in the Universal Banking project by giving access to basic bank accounts at post offices.
	The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. However, the decision to do so rests with individual institutions.

Universal Bank

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage Scottish banks to make their services available through the Post Office branch network.

Anne McGuire: I have regular contact with ministerial colleagues and representatives from the industry.
	All of the major Scottish banks currently allow access to their basic bank accounts through the Post Office branch network. Post Office Ltd. also provides access to a range of other bank accounts and is seeking to expand these in conjunction with all the major institutions.
	The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. However, the decision to do so rests with individual institutions.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Christmas Expenditure

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by her Department on (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas parties (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The information is as follows:
	(a) Expenditure on Christmas cards is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 1997 No record 
			 1998 No record 
			 1999 1,971.00 
			 2000 3,500.92 
			 2001 2,211.39 
			 2002 1,985 
			 2003 1,587.50 
		
	
	(b) Expenditure on Christmas parties is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Christmas party costs () 
		
		
			 1997 No record 
			 1998 No record 
			 1999(13) n/a 
			 2000(14) n/a 
			 2001 4,452.23 
			 2002 6,963.73 
			 2003 6,941.85 
		
	
	(13) No Christmas party held this year. However, there was a new year's drinks reception on 18 January 2000. The cost was 4,386.03.
	(14) No Christmas party held this year. However, there was a new year's drinks reception on 22 February 2001. The cost was 2,248.38.

Gambling

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the size of fund the proposed Gambling Industry Charitable Trust will need to address problems of gambling addiction over the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We have accepted the advice of the Gambling Review Body that the gambling industry should in the first place be asked to provide 3 million a year to fund the Trust's work. The size of this contribution will need to be kept under review in the light of experience and the Trust's own views; and if it proves necessary to ask the industry to consider a larger contribution then we will do so.

Gambling

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Government will bring forward legislation to introduce a levy on the gambling industry if the sector fails to agree voluntary funding of the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust.

Richard Caborn: Yes. Clause 96 of the draft Gambling Bill (Cm 6014) which is now being considered by a Scrutiny Committee on both Houses makes provision to this effect.

Honours

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many honours nominations her Department has received for people involved in rugby league football in each of the last five years; how many have been awarded in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We cannot provide the number of nominations for people involved in rugby league football as we do not keep records in this form. Three awards have been made to people involved in rugby league football since New Year 1999.
	We receive nominations for people from a broad spectrum of sports and there is always stiff competition for the limited number of awards available in each Honours List. Individual nominations are considered strictly on merit: the discipline in which the individual has achieved success is not a factor in the decision-making process. We are always interested in receiving nominations from the public and sports bodies and the Rugby Football League is one of many of sports organisations invited on a regular basis to make nominations.

National Lottery

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Lottery grants were given to (a) the hundred richest and (b) the hundred poorest wards in Wales, using the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation published by the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 (i) from the inception of the Lottery to 1 May 1997 and (ii) from 2 May 1997 to date.

Estelle Morris: I am arranging for copies of this information to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Rugby World Cup

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total departmental cost was of visits to Australia for the Rugby World Cup.

Tessa Jowell: The total cost to the Department for the visits of two Ministers and officials to Australia for the Rugby World Cup was 44,161.

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) her Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months.

Richard Caborn: In the 12 months since December 2002 three security passes, none of which identify the Department nor the buildings to which they allow access, have been reported as lost. There have been no reports of stolen passes. The Royal Parks Agency do not differentiate between lost and stolen cards and three have been reported lost/stolen in the relevant period. In all cases the cards are electronic and are de-activated as soon as a report is received.

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the balance of payments deficit in tourism was in each year since 1995.

Richard Caborn: The balance of payments in tourism for the UK in each year since 1995 are shown in the following table.
	
		Tourism balance of payments --  million
		
			  Overseas residents' spending in the UK UK residents' spending abroad Balance of payments 
		
		
			 1995 11,763 15,386 -3,623 
			 1996 12,290 16,223 -3,933 
			 1997 12,244 16,931 -4,687 
			 1998 12,671 19,489 -6,818 
			 1999 12,498 22,020 -9,522 
			 2000 12,805 24,251 -11,446 
			 2001 11,306 25,332 -14,026 
			 2002 11,737 26,962 -15,225 
		
	
	Source:
	International Passenger Survey, National Statistics

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Ministers (Legal Fees)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will publish a list of the ministers who, since May 1997, have benefited from the Government paying their legal fees.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The question of whether a Minister's legal fees should be paid by Government, i.e. out of public funds, is primarily a matter for the relevant departmental accounting officer, normally the Permanent Secretary for the Minister's Department. Whether or not a Minister's legal fees, for example in relation to some private litigation, are being paid out of public funds is not information which is held by the Treasury Solicitor's Department or by any other of the legal teams in the Government Legal Service. The source from which to obtain this information will be each of the Departments.

Serious Fraud Office

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent assessment she has made of the work of the Serious Fraud Office; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General and I meet the SFO Director on a regular (almost monthly) basis and on other occasions as required. These meetings are wide ranging and include casework, management and financial issues.
	As well as our on-going contact the Director of the SFO is required to present the SFO's Annual Report to Parliament. The report details progress and performance of the SFO's operational activities. In addition the audited accounts of the SFO are laid before Parliament annually.
	The SFO continues to provide an effective response to the most serious and complex frauds. Since its inception the SFO has convicted 71 per cent. of defendants who were charged.

Serious Fraud Office

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) offences of fraud and (b) serious frauds, involving breaches of trust by professionals, were reported to the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years; how many prosecutions were initiated; what the outcome was in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The SFO does not routinely record the professions of individuals reported to them. The specific information requested could be produced only at disproportionate costs. It is however the case that the SFO has in the past and will continue to prosecute, where appropriate, professionals such as lawyers and accountants for fraud offences which meet the Department's criteria for acceptance of a case.
	An ad hoc inspection of files reveals that since 1 January 2001 the SFO has commenced at least 10 investigations where one or more of the suspects is a qualified accountant or lawyer. In the cases identified there are total of 14 accountants or lawyers who are suspects. Prosecutions have commenced in some of these cases but they are yet to reach the trial stage.

Serious Fraud Office

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to set up branches of the Serious Fraud Office in the regions.

Harriet Harman: I have no current plans to set up regional offices; staff are employed and based in the regions from time to time in accordance with individual case demands. However, with nearly 50 per cent. of cases based in London and the South East and a current total permanent staff of some 240, it has so far proved not to be necessary or economic to establish a regional base. As the Serious Fraud Office expands this is something that will be kept under review.

TRANSPORT

Disabled Drivers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has undertaken into the provision of a temporary disability scheme for car drivers to supplement the Orange Disk scheme.

Tony McNulty: The Blue (formerly Orange) Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of on-street parking concessions for disabled people with severe walking difficulties or the most severe upper limb disabilities and those who are registered blind. The Scheme was introduced in 1971 since when it has been the subject of several reviews.
	The latest review was completed in December 2002. Ministers accepted the majority of the 47 recommendations made by our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, to improve the Scheme. We are taking these forward through changes to primary and secondary legislation, research and in new guidance to local authorities on the Scheme. The recommendations and the Government's response to them were placed in the House Libraries on 18 December 2002.
	On the research side we are pursuing three projects arising from the review: one to look at the feasibility of setting up a database of blue badge holders to assist with enforcement; a second to examine the current exemption from the Scheme for the four Central London Boroughs; and a third to look at the case for extending eligibility to other groups of disabled people.

Drink Driving

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were caused by drink driving in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: Whether an accident was caused by drink-driving is not recorded as part of the Department's personal injury accident database. However the following table shows the number and severity of accidents in Lancashire where at least one of the drivers involved provided a positive breath test or refused to provide a breath test.
	
		Accidents involving positive breath tests in Lancashire
		
			 Severity 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Fatal 0 2 0 1 1 
			 Serious 39 39 47 35 35 
			 Slight 84 114 79 110 126 
			 Total 123 155 126 146 162

Speed Cameras

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic speed cameras there are in the area covered by the Lancashire Constabulary; and what the estimated revenue from them is in the current financial year.

David Jamieson: Currently there are 210 fixed speed camera sites and 60 mobile sites within the Lancashire Safety Camera Partnership area. Estimated revenue from fixed penalties for speeding offences detailed in the partnerships operational case for 200304 is 7,200,000, although this amount will depend on the number of motorists that exceed the speed limit. The portion returned to the partnership is that needed to cover the cost of their camera activity.

Speed Cameras

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the criteria for the installation of speed cameras, with particular reference to the cameras sited at (a) Highlands Road, Fareham and (b) Gosport Road, Fareham.

David Jamieson: Speed cameras within the Safety Camera Programme are sited in accordance with the Handbook of Rules to the scheme which is available in the Library of the House. The two camera sites referred to fully meet both the casualty criteria and conspicuity and visibility criteria.

Airlines (Safety Standards)

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether safety standards that have to be met by an airline for a permit to be granted to operate in the airspace of each of the other EU and EEA member states are identical to those which have to be met before his Department will grant a British permit to operate in UK airspace;
	(2)  whether a permit issued to an airline by another member state of the EU or EEA to operate in its airspace is sufficient authorisation to operate in UK airspace.

Tony McNulty: All airlines operating international services are required to have certificates showing that they meet the safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. As Contracting States to the Chicago Convention, EEA (including EU) Member States are required to recognise the certificates issued by other Contracting States to their airlines unless they have reason to believe that they have not been issued in accordance with the ICAO standards.
	If another Member State has issued an operating permit to an airline we would expect that airline to meet the necessary international safety standards. However, the fact that another Member State had issued a permit would not itself provide authorisation for that airline to operate to the UK. The UK reserves the right to make its own decisions on whether or not to issue a permit. Permits may also be refused, suspended or revoked for safety or other reason, as illustrated in my answer to the hon. Member of 8 January 2004, Official Report, columns 42930W. Other Member States may also take permit action for reasons other than safety.

Airports (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses were received to the Future of Air TransportScotland consultation document; and of these (a) how many expressed a view in favour of a second runway at Edinburgh airport, (b) how many expressed a view against a second runway at Edinburgh airport and (c) how many did not express a preference.

Tony McNulty: A total of 325 written responses and 965 questionnaire responses were received to the Scottish Consultation Document. The results of the consultation are summarised on the Department's Airport White Paper website.
	The stakeholder consultation response and the NOP questionnaire response both indicate that of those who expressed a view, there were significantly more consultees in favour of a new runway than against it. In the case of the public response the numbers were more evenly matched.

CCTV

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to fund the extension of CCTV cameras in London's tube and train stations.

Tony McNulty: The Department has no plans to fund additional CCTV cameras in London at either Tube or train stations. This is an operational matter for London Underground, Network Rail and the train operating companies to decide, in accordance with their own needs and their responsibilities for safety and security.

Central Railway Project

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Central Railway project.

Tony McNulty: We are considering carefully Central Railway's proposals and will respond to Central Railway in due course.

Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway Station

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the construction of a Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway railway station near Gloucester airport;
	(2)  if he will assess the advantages and the disadvantages of constructing a Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway railway station near Gloucester airport.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority is carrying out a pre-feasibility study into the potential for a new parkway station near Gloucester. This work is to assess the business case for and operational implications of a new station. Several locations are being assessed including some in the vicinity of the airport. The study is due to be completed in February.

Driving Licences

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from the EC Committee on Driving Licence working groups on the procedures employed to (a) assess and (b) minimise the road safety risks associated with epilepsy.

David Jamieson: The appropriate working group of the EC Committee on Driving Licences has not yet met, therefore I have received no such information. I expect the epilepsy Working Group to meet three or four times during 2004, and to report back on its conclusions in about 18 months time.

Edinburgh Airport

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) households and (b) electors live within the possible new Edinburgh airport boundary as outlined in the Aviation White Paper.

Tony McNulty: There are 33 residential properties within the possible new Edinburgh airport boundary outlined in the Aviation White Paper. We do not have information on the number of electors at these properties.

Environmental Audit Committee Report

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the research referred to in paragraph 4 of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Report (CM6063).

David Jamieson: The finding that congestion costs are over three-quarters of the full external costs of road transport can be found in Table B on page v of Surface Transport Costs and Charges: Great Britain 1998, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, July 2001. The research was commissioned by the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Hazardous Incidents

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have made reports to the Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme, in each year since it was introduced.

David Jamieson: Since the CHIRP was introduced on 1 December 1982 there have been a total 4,488 reported incidents for the aviation and maritime programmes.
	The number of reports for the last four years for the aviation CHIRP is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 330 
			 2001 379 
			 2002 345 
			 2003 373 
		
	
	The Maritime CHIRP was introduced in July 2003 and has so far received 38 reports.

Illegal Immigrants

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) date and (b) nature of each incident involving ships in British waters assisting other vessels attempting to bring illegal immigrants to Britain since 1997; and what the names of the vessels were in each case.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency co-ordinates the search and rescue of persons in distress at sea and responded to over 13,000 incidents in the last year. The Agency collects data about the nature of incidents, including the types of vessels involved in terms of whether they are commercial ships, fishing vessels or pleasure craft. However, the Agency does not collect data relating to illegal immigration.
	The UK Immigration Service also does not collate the information in the format requested. However, the Service does work closely with European counterparts to identify vessels concerned with smuggling potential illegal immigrants to the UK. In addition, as part of REFLEX, the government's multi-agency task force to combat organised immigration crime, the Immigration Service co-operates with other government departments to exchange information on those suspected of involvement in maritime smuggling.

Leak Inquiries

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list occasions on which his Department has conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if he will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from his Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and since then it has not instigated any inquiries into alleged leaks from members of its staff.

Liquid Natural Gas

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tax advantages are available for liquid natural gas vehicles.

David Jamieson: Due to its environmental benefits, liquid natural gas (LNG) enjoys a lower rate of duty compared to conventional fuels, equivalent to 6p per litre compared to some 47p per litre for petrol and diesel. In the pre-Budget report the Chancellor announced that this differential will be held constant for a further three years.
	Alternatively fuelled vehicles are also eligible for lower rates of vehicle excise duty depending on their CO2 emissions.

Liquid Natural Gas

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles using liquid natural gas benefited from tax advantages in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were (a) cars and (b) vans.

David Jamieson: Figures published by the Natural Gas Vehicle Association for August estimate that there are 875 natural gas vehicles in the UK which will have benefited from the duty differential for natural gas. Of these 20 are estimated to be cars: there is no estimate for vans. Details of the split between vehicles using liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas were not published.

Liquid Natural Gas

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government grants are available to convert petrol cars to liquid natural gas; what the take-up has been in the current financial year; and how much is available for the remainder of the financial year.

David Jamieson: Limited grants are available under the TransportEnergy programmes to offset the additional costs of purchasing clean fuelled vehicles including those powered by liquid natural gas (LNG). Grant offers have been made for 45 LNG vehicles in this financial year, which will be honoured once the conversions are completed under the terms of the grant offer letters.
	The Energy Saving Trust, who administer the grant programmes for the Government, will not be issuing any new grant offer letters this financial year as they have now received applications to cover the full TransportEnergy programme budget of nearly 30 million. This is a considerable increase from the 18 million spend in 200102, and the Trust forecast they will provide grants for around 8,000 vehicles this year, compared with 5,000 last year. The grant programmes will resume in April 2004.

M6 Tolls

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the impact of the M6 Toll on traffic flows in the West Midlands.

David Jamieson: At present it is too early to say with certainty what impact the M6 Toll has had on traffic flows in the West Midlands. The Highways Agency is monitoring traffic flows on the M6 Toll and adjacent road network and a full report will be prepared in April 2004, once traffic patterns have stabilised. A more detailed study report will follow when the toll road has been open for 12 months.

Moving Vehicles (Smoking Ban)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to outlaw smoking while in control of a moving vehicle.

David Jamieson: There are no plans to prohibit smoking when driving. However, drivers who fail to have proper control of their vehicle for any reason risk prosecution.

North Berwick-Edinburgh Line

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Strategic Rail Authority is taking with regard to the withdrawal of rolling stock from the North Berwick-Edinburgh commuter line when the current refurbished units are returned to WAGN at the end of March.

Tony McNulty: North Berwick services are operated by trains hired from WAGN under a lease which expires in March. The Strategic Rail Authority, Scotrail and the Scottish Executive have therefore been considering options for replacing them. Trials of alternative rolling stock have taken place on the line and Scotrail announced on 14 January that the replacement trains would be formed of locomotive-hauled carriages.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Tony McNulty: The Department complies with Government procurement policy, which is that all procurement is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. The Department must comply with the requirements of the EU Treaty, including the principles of non-discrimination, the EC procurement directives and the UK's international obligations. The Department has not outsourced any IT or call centre jobs to offshore companies and currently has no plans to do so.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce the costs of (a) administration and (b) consultants within the railway industry.

Tony McNulty: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport said today in his statement to the House, the Department for Transport is undertaking a review of the rail industry. This will consider all of the industry's costs and how better value for passengers can be obtained from the Government's funding.

Road Junctions (Christchurch)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason representations in respect of the proposed compulsory purchase order at Barrack Road/Stour Road junction in Christchurch are being considered by the Government Office of the North East.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport's quasi-judicial role for considering all Local Highway Authority Schemes and Orders for his confirmation, such as the case for the proposed Compulsory Purchase Order at Barrack Road/Stour Road junction in Christchurch, is undertaken as a national function and is based (since 1989) in Government Office for the North East.

Robin Hood Country

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what historical basis road signs on the M1 motorway describe Nottinghamshire as Robin Hood country.

David Jamieson: The signs were requested by Nottinghamshire county council, whose area has been historically connected with the legend of Robin Hood.

Ships (Near Misses)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many near misses between ships there were in each year since 1997 while in British waters; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such incidents.

David Jamieson: The number of hazardous incidents in UK waters involving more than one vessel, where at least one was a 'ship', since 1997 were:
	
		
			  Number of incidents 
		
		
			 1997 55 
			 1998 35 
			 1999 36 
			 2000 49 
			 2001 46 
			 2002 46 
			 2003 67 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures are for incidents reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) by 15 January 2004.
	Mariners are encouraged to report any such incidents and these reports are considered with the alleged offending vessel invited to comment. Actions arising from this include reminding the alleged offending vessel of the importance of maintaining good seamanship at all time and referring them to the appropriate literature or, where necessary, inspection or prosecution. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is also actively involving the mariner in how to promote awareness on avoiding these situations through its website and promotional literature.

Speed Limits (Roads)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce minimum speed limits on (a) motorways and (b) dual carriageways.

David Jamieson: The Government has no plans to introduce minimum speed limits on motorways or dual carriageways.

Speeding (Penalty Points)

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals not to penalise motorists guilty of speeding with penalty points on their driving licences when it is a first offence.

David Jamieson: Speeding is a serious threat to road safety which can result in death and serious injury. We see no reason to distinguish between first and subsequent offences.

Strategic Rail Authority

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority on publication of its annual strategic plan;
	(2)  how many drafts of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004 have been (a) received and (b) commented on by his Department;
	(3)  what powers he has to determine the date of publications issued by the Strategic Rail Authority;
	(4)  under what authority he is able to determine the date of publication by the Strategic Rail Authority of its strategic plan;
	(5)  when (a) he and (b) his officials first received a draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004.

Alistair Darling: The Government and the Strategic Rail Authority have agreed that it is not appropriate to publish a Strategic Plan in advance of the review now taking place of Government expenditure. I have the power to determine the date of any publication by the Strategic Rail Authority by issuing a direction, as prescribed under sections 206(3), 207(5) and 209(5) of the Transport Act 2000. My officials saw one draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, which they received on 16 December 2003, but made no comment on its content. No ministers saw the draft, nor was its existence drawn to their attention.

Street Works

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to develop an England-wide system for the notification of street works owned by utilities and road departments similar to the Susie Phone system in Scotland.

David Jamieson: Local authorities in England already have systems for the notification of street works. We believe that the large number of authorities involved makes a single system covering the whole of England unrealistic. However, the Department has undertaken a study to consider how future systems could be developed in a way that ensured consistency and compatibility between them while remaining locally based.

Traffic Management Bill

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the basis used in the regulatory impact assessment of the Traffic Management Bill for calculating the extent of delay imposed by incidents on the trunk road network.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has calculated total motorway congestion from Department for Transport figures for estimated time lost compared with free flow speed (per kilometre travelled for different vehicle types) together with figures for total motorway traffic taken from the Transport Statistics Bulletin.
	The Highways Agency used a variety of data to estimate incident related congestion. This included research from the Transport Research Laboratory which estimated that 25 per cent. of congestion was due to incidents. The Highways Agency Traffic Control Centre Project estimated a figure of 30 per cent.

Traffic Management Bill

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the powers contained in section 74 of the Traffic Management Bill are universally adopted by local authorities.

David Jamieson: Clause 74 of the Traffic Management Bill enables the Lord Chancellor to make regulations specifying how a penalty charge notice may be served and its content, such as the alleged contravention, the amount of the penalty charge, by when it has to be paid, how and where it can be paid, discount available for early payment, right to make representations and so on. The clause specifically excludes the power to stop vehicles for the purposes of issuing a penalty charge notice.
	All local authorities receiving civil enforcement powers as a result of this Bill will be required to abide by the terms of these regulations.

Traffic Management Bill

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources were used to produce the figures for the costs to business of utility streetworks in the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill.

David Jamieson: The Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill (page 5) discusses the total economic costs of utility street works rather than the costs to business alone.
	There are two estimates. The first of 35 million in 1983 prices is taken from the 1985 'Review of the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950' (HMSOISBN 0 11 550729 9, page 119). The second of 2.4 billion is taken from a 1992 report of the Transport Research Laboratory. Unfortunately, this latter figure was quoted in error and refers to the total value of utility construction work. However a 2001 report by the Laboratory 'Mitigating the Disruption caused by Utility Street Works' (TRL report 516ISSN 09684107, page 9) estimated the annual traffic delay costs of utility street works at some 2 billion. My department has commissioned Halcrow to update this work.

Traffic Management Bill

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what economic model the Government has used in working out the figures for the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

David Jamieson: Figures presented in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Traffic Management Bill have been calculated using software packages models Transport User Benefit Analysis (TUBA), Cost Benefit Analysis (COBA), and Queues and Delays at Roadworks (QUADRO).
	TUBA and COBA were used to calculate figures relating to the Highways Agency's Traffic Officer Service. The model used to calculate the financial cost of disruption caused by utilities' street works is called QUADRO.
	Manuals and guidance for using these packages are available via the DfT website as detailed below.
	The COBA User Manual is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index.hcst?n=79121=4
	The TUBA User Manual is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft transstrat/documents/page/dft transstrat 50799Q.hcsp
	The TUBA Guidance is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft transstrat/documents/page/dft transstrat 507975.pdf
	The QUADRO user manual is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stcllent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index.hcst?n=79141=4

US Ships (Decommissioning)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 56W on US Ships (Decommissioning), who carried out the routing plans and initial risk assessment for the return of the US ships under tow; what the earliest date the risk assessment determined the ships could safely make a return journey was; and if he will place the (a) risk assessment and (b) routing plans in the Library.

David Jamieson: The UK took the view that it could be unsafe to return the ships to the US immediately, given the likely winter weather in the Atlantic and the need for a high degree of confidence of fair weather for the duration of the tow. It concluded that a return passage could not be contemplated before the spring. Passages both to the north and south of the United Kingdom have been considered in relation to notional routes which respect mandatory maritime traffic schemes and advising guidance. As weather windows become available in the spring, routing options will be subject to more detailed assessment, once application is made, and copies of such assessments will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

International Trade

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 449W, on international trade, if she will make a statement on the impact of the Commons Agricultural Policy on the competitiveness of products from developing countries.

Ben Bradshaw: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) supports farmers' incomes via a number of methodsdirect payments, export subsidies, intervention buying and tariffswhich ensure that EU farmers receive higher prices for their goods. These measures increase the level of production and therefore result in lower imports and / or higher exports than would otherwise be the case. This can have the effect of depressing world prices for certain commodities. Developing country producers who would otherwise be competitive on world markets may find themselves unable to compete. This could distort the allocation of resources in a particular country away from those in which it has a comparative advantage towards less competitive sectors.
	The CAP reforms agreed in June 2003 will help to break the link between income support and production in the EU and will reconnect farmers to their markets. Production occurring as a result of loss-making activities should cease as farmers decisions are increasingly determined by market forces rather than subsidies. This production response will reduce EU production and net exports and, where this results in a higher world price, it should have a beneficial impact on developing country producers.
	Further reform of the domestic support regime is necessary and the Commission have recently produced proposals for reform covering the cotton, tobacco, olive oil and hops sectors and proposals for reform of the sugar regime are expected next year.

Beef Imports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions she has placed on imports of beef into the UK from the USA following the recent BSE case there; and what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on achieving a common approach to policy.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 January 2004
	Animal and public health in the UK are protected from BSE from third countries by existing EU import rules. These rules require any third country exporting meat or live animals into the Community to have in place controls equivalent to those in the EU. These controls are supported by a requirement for veterinary certification in relation to individual meat consignments.
	Imports of beef and beef products are permitted only if EU rules requiring the removal of specified risk material (SRMeg skull, tonsils, spinal cord, intestine) and methods of slaughter are met.
	A recent meeting of the EU's Chief Veterinary Officers was informed that the European Commission were following up the implications of the recent BSE case with the US authorities. The Chief Veterinary Officers supported the Commission in taking this approach. An EU technical visit to the US is being arranged to evaluate the position.

Dairy Farming

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms were in operation in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The following figures show holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity.
	
		
			  Dairy holdings 
		
		
			 1983 30,361 
			 1984 29,912 
			 1985 28,300 
			 1986 27,583 
			 1987 26,138 
			 1988 24,767 
			 1989 23,849 
			 1990 22,793 
			 1991 22,701 
			 1992 21,712 
			 1993 18,771 
			 1994 20,579 
			 1995 19,632 
			 1996 18,904 
			 1997 18,007 
			 1998 17,014 
			 1999 16,313 
			 2000 15,219 
			 2001 14,106 
			 2002 14,342 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census

Departmental Lawyers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many lawyers her Department employs.

Alun Michael: Defra currently employs 89 lawyers, plus 2 legal trainees.

EU Regulations (Fruit)

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Department initiated proceedings against the Asda company in respect of the EU horticultural regulations relating to the size and shape of items of fruit; and what the costs involved were.

Alun Michael: holding answer 13 January 2004
	The Department instituted proceedings against Asda at South Hampshire Magistrates Court in respect of 14 breaches of EU marketing standards identified during an inspection at the company's Fareham store on 1 November 2000. None of the alleged breaches relate to the size or shape of produce. The allegations relate to the retail of poor quality produce and failure to label with the correct quality class or country of origin.
	The defendant argued in the courts that the offences with which it was charged were not known to law because the UK legislation establishing them was defective. These arguments were rejected by the House of Lords, which awarded Defra the costs of its appeals in the Divisional Court and the House of Lords. The quantum of these costs has not yet been determined.
	The matters have been remitted to the magistrates court for trial. The costs of the case in the magistrates court will be decided at its conclusion as is usual practice.

Fisheries

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the decisions of the December 2003 EU Fisheries Council on (a) fishing in the Irish Sea, (b) fish landings in Whitehaven and (c) policy on designated ports; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 January 2004
	We agreed a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Irish Sea cod of 2,150 tonnes (a 10 per cent. increase on the 2003 TAC that in fact represents a reduction in fishing effort). We agreed 20 per cent. cuts in the associated plaice and sole TACs, as opposed to the 47 per cent. and 34 per cent. cuts proposed by the Commission. A threefold increase in the haddock TAC will help to balance cuts, and a minimal cut in the nephrops TAC allows current catch levels to be maintained.
	Landings in Whitehaven, mainly demersal species and shellfish from both UK and Irish vessels, are likely to reflect the above TAC changes.
	The designated port arrangements for the United Kingdom will not be affected except that landings of North Sea haddock taken under the special conditions set out in Annex IV of Council Regulation 2287/2003 will be restricted to designated ports in Scotland and on the east coast of England.

Food Exporters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the announcement by the Rural Payments Agency that it is to end export refunds immediately to exporters of processed foods to the new EU entrant states.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency recently issued advice to traders on the transitional arrangements for the payment of refunds on goods exported to the new European Union (EU) entrant states.
	From 1 May 2004, when the ten acceding states become full members of the EU, refund payments will cease. Among the accessionary arrangements designed to minimise the impact of these changes, some entrant states and the EU entered into a number of 'double benefit' agreements. Under these arrangements, export refunds are not paid in return for a reciprocal waiving of import duty in the importing country for certain exports of agricultural products. A number of these arrangements affect processed foods exports. In addition the Commission has identified possible problems in relation to speculation in the sugar sector and potential stock piling of community exports in acceding member states. To counter this sugar export refunds have been withdrawn with effect from 28 November 2003.

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many firms are in dispute with her Department over payments for work carried out during the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease; what the total outstanding sum in dispute is; and for what reasons each payment is being withheld.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 25962W.

Livestock Farming

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recovery of livestock farming in (a) Copeland and (b) Cumbria since January 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: holding answer 12 January 2004
	Other than the June annual Agricultural Census, which amongst other things records the number of animals present on holdings on the designated census day, no specific assessment has been made of the recovery of livestock farming in Copeland and Cumbria since January 2002. However, data from the Agricultural Census of June 2002 1 shows that in Cumbria there has been an increase in livestock numbers compared with June 2001, while in Copeland the position remained broadly similar. The details are as follows:
	
		Recovery of livestock farming in Copeland and Cumbria since January 2002
		
			  Copeland Cumbria 
		
		
			 Cattle and Calves 
			 2000 42,217 510,446 
			 2001 40,502 281,490 
			 2002 39,938 426,484 
			
			 Sheep and Lambs 
			 2000 251,408 2,633,973 
			 2001 221,293 1,499,064 
			 2002 219,897 1,801,789 
			
			 Pigs 
			 2000  54,441 
			 2001  10,119 
			 2002  23,555 
		
	
	Note:
	Pig data in Copeland have been omitted to prevent the disclosure of information relating to individual holdings.
	1 June 2003 data is expected to be published in March.

Milk

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK's raw milk production was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how this raw milk is processed, broken down by percentage.

Alun Michael: The following table provides information on the UK raw milk production and supply, and how this supply is then utilised for liquid consumption and the manufacture of products.
	
		UK raw milk production and utilisation -- Million litres
		
			  Calendar years 
			  1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			  Supply and Use (a) 
			 Production 14,317 14,549 14,259 14,256 14,420 14,218 14,587 14,078 14,291 14,449 
			 Imports (15) (15) 181 111 128 129 111 105 64 72 
			 Exports 89 129 185 173 290 373 465 445 414 421 
			 Total new supply 14.228 14,420 14,255 14,194 14,258 13,973 14,233 13,738 13,941 14,100 
			 of which: 
			 For liquid consumption 6,806 (48%) 6,765 (47%) 6,922 (49%) 6,838 (48%) 6,748 (47%) 6,739 (48%) 6,853 (48%) 6,768 (49%) 6,761 (48%) 6,756 (48%) 
			 For manufacture 7,061 7,298 6,918 6,934 7,059 6,821 6,988 6,550 6,714 6,939 
			 of which: 
			 Butter (b) 284 (2%) 292 (2%) 273 (2%) 266 (2%) 284 (2%) 281 (2%) 290 (2%) 270 (2%) 259 (2%) 279 (2%) 
			 Cheese 3,267 (23%) 3,248 (23%) 3,182 (22%) 3,348 (24%) 3,371 (24%) 3,257 (23%) 3,297 (23%) 3,032 (22%) 3,568 (26%) 3,449 (24%) 
			 Cream (b) 262 (2%) 277 (2%) 279 (2%) 276 (2%) 263 (2%) 263 (2%) 271 (2%) 266 (2%) 259 (2%) 260 (2%) 
			 Condensed milk (c) 731 (5%) 751 (5%) 661 (5%) 719 (5%) 692 (5%) 643 (5%) 603 (4%) 522 (4%) 536 (4%) 491 (3%) 
			 Milk powderfull cream 458 (3%) 531 (4%) 623 (4%) 558 (4%) 822 (6%) 809 (6%) 853 (6%) 932 (7%) 781 (6%) 825 (6%) 
			 Milk powderskimmed 1,437 (10%) 1,567 (11%) 1,422 (70%) 1,322 (9%) 1,146 (8%) 1,101 (8%) 1,123 (8%) 889 (6%) 663 (5%) 973 (7%) 
			 Other 623 (4%) 632 (4%) 480 (3%) 445 (3%) 482 (3%) 467 (3%) 549 (4%) 640 (5%) 649 (5%) 663 (5%) 
			 Dairy wastage and stock change (15) (15) 113 (1%) 86 (1%) 112 (1%) 80 (1%) 56 (-) 91 (1%) 132 (1%) 98 (1%) 
			 Other uses (d) (15) (15) 301 (2%) 336 (2%) 338 (2%) 333 (2%) 338 (2%) 329 (2%) 334 (2%) 307 (2%) 
		
	
	(15) Equals less than 0.5 per cent.
	Note:
	(a) Aggregated data from surveys run by Defra, SEERAD and DARDNI on the utilisation of milk by dairies.
	(b) Includes the utilisation of the residual fat of low fat liquid milk production.
	(c) Includes condensed milk used in the production of chocolate crumb and in the production of machine skimmed milk.
	(d) Includes farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether her Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries her Department has outsourced these jobs; how much her Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Alun Michael: Consistent with the need to ensure fair and transparent procurement processes in line with legal obligations, the Department's procurement policy is to obtain value for money and protect the public purse. In evaluating any procurement decision containing any offshoring proposals, the Department will have regard to the net cost to the Exchequer.
	Defra is currently conducting a procurement according to EU requirements to outsource its IT provision, and award of contract is expected in June 2004. The contract will be evaluated in line with the above policy and will also follow the latest Government guidance on tax planning and tax avoidance. It is expected that around 300 staff will transfer to the new supplier under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) 1981) arrangements.
	There was no spend on off shore IT or off shore call centre outsourcing in 200203 and in the current year is nil to date. No sum has been budgeted for off shore outsourcing for the years 200405 and 200506.

Sheep Dips

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the latest advice is that she has offered to those who use organophosphates for sheep dipping.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 January 2004
	Since 1995 the sale and supply of OP sheep dips has been restricted to those holding a Certificate of Competence in the Use of Sheep Dips awarded by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC). The training course run by the NPTC covers the use and handling of sheep dips before, during and after dipping.
	In addition the Health and Safety Executive has issued to all sheep farmers an advisory leaflet on sheep dipping. This includes specific advice on the handling and use of OP sheep dips. This leaflet was last revised in 1998.
	In November 1999 the VMD also distributed to all holders of the NPTC Certificate of Competence in Sheep Dipping an A4 laminated sheet highlighting the risks of exposure to OP concentrate. Agricultural merchants are required to supply copies of this advisory sheet to all purchasers of sheep dips, together with protective gloves.
	Advice on the safe use and handling of each specific OP sheep dip product is also included on the product label. These were last revised when OP sheep dips were returned to the market in containers with fully enclosed delivery systems in 200102.

Sugar Beet

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the annual sugar consumption in the United Kingdom she estimates is met by domestic sugar beet production.

Alun Michael: It is not possible to give an estimate of the percentage of the annual sugar consumption in the UK which is met by domestic sugar beet production. This is due to several reasons. Firstly, it is not possible to distinguish between exports of sugar produced from imported sugar cane and exports of sugar produced from domestic sugar beet. Secondly, not all sugar is consumed directly, it is also manufactured into many processed products. Although those processed products may be produced in the UK, they may not be consumed here.
	However, the Department produces data on the annual total production of sugar (on a refined basis) from domestic sugar beet and supplies for the UK market. These figures are published annually in Agriculture in the United Kingdom. Copies are available in the House Library or on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/esg. The latest figures available are for 2002 and are provisional. A total of 1,390,000 tonnes of sugar were produced from sugar beet in 2002. The UK imported 1,309,000 tonnes of sugar and exported 487,000 tonnes of sugar. Thus, the total new supply of sugar available for use in the UK in 2002 was 2,212,000 tonnes (see Table 1 as follows). UK production as a percentage of new supply, which is the commonly used measure of self sufficiency, was 63 per cent. in 2002.
	
		Table 1. Sugar production in the UK in 2002(16)
		
			 Calendar year 2002 (provisional) Sugar(thousand tonnes refined basis) 
		
		
			 Production(17) 1,390 
			   
			 Imports from:  
			 the EU 186 
			 the rest of the world 1,123 
			   
			 Exports to:  
			 the EU 104 
			 the rest of the world 383 
			   
			 Total new supply 2,212 
			   
			 Production as percentage of total new supply for use in the UK 63 
		
	
	(16) Extracted from Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2002
	(17) Sugar coming out of the factory in the early part of the new year is regarded as being of the previous calendar year's production.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the case for changes in the basis of air passenger duty from payment per passenger to payment per flight, and for relating it to the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants produced during the flight; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The use of economic instruments to encourage the aviation industry to take account of and, where appropriate, reduce its contribution to global warming, local air pollution and noise pollution was considered in the Air Transport White Paper, published in December 2003. The White Paper supported widened use of airport charges linked to the level of local noise and air pollutant emissions. In addition, we announced that, as part of the Government's commitment to using economic instruments to help tackle greenhouse gas emissions, the UK will push hard at international level to secure agreement on including aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme.
	Levels of all taxes, including air passenger duty, are reviewed Budget-by-Budget, taking account of a range of social, economic and environmental considerations.

Financial Products (Risk Warnings)

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the need for a risk warning to be attached to (a) all financial products and (b) documentation about pensions.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority requires regulated financial products to be promoted in a manner that is clear, fair and not misleading.
	In particular, for investment products it requires firms to adequately describe the risks involved. In the case of personal and stakeholder pensions, it specifically requires firms to explain those risks to the consumer before the product is bought.
	The Department of Trade and Industry is currently consulting on the provision of risk warnings for consumers as part of its ongoing review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Tax Credits

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to develop a substitute eligibility test for working tax credit fast-track;
	(2)  what plans he has to conduct a reappraisal of the fast-track eligibility rules for claiming working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans to change the eligibility rules. As with other issues, we continue to keep the policy under review.

Unemployment (Warrington, North)

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment in the Warrington North constituency has been since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Helen Jones dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Warrington North constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148248)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Warrington North constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The annual average number of JSA claimants in the Warrington North constituency decreased by 763 from 2,041 in 1997 to 1,278 in 2003.

Armed Forces (Departure Payments)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed early departure payments for members of the Armed Forces which will replace pension payments will attract national insurance contributions.

Dawn Primarolo: The early departure payments will not attract national insurance contributions, since they will be made under a statutory scheme and would not be considered as earnings derived from employment.

Banking Regulation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which banks have a licence to operate in the UK; and when each received its licence.

Ruth Kelly: Under the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000), banks, building societies and credit unions are authorised by the Financial Services Authority to accept deposits in the UK.
	Details of the banks and other institutions which are authorised with permission to accept deposits in the UK and the date when they received authorisation can be found on the Financial Services Authority's website (www.fsa.qov.uk).

Child Tax Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer per year of increasing by 100 per cent. the rate of child tax credit in respect of children under five.

Dawn Primarolo: The annual cost would be approximately 3 billion per year.

Child Tax Credit

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Buckingham constituency (a) have applied for, (b) are eligible for and (c) received the child tax credit in 200304.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated number of families receiving tax credits in the Buckingham constituency at 3 July 2003 is shown in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analysesJuly 2003, which is on the Inland Revenue website at: www. inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu. htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty. Estimates for January 2004 will be published on 30 January 2004.
	No estimates are available at the constituency level of the number of people who have claimed tax credits or who are eligible for them.

Citizen Information Project

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what dates he has met Scottish Ministers to discuss the Citizen Information Project and its implications for Scotland;
	(2)  how many members of staff have been seconded from the Register Office for Scotland to work on the Office of National Statistics' Citizen Information Project;
	(3)  whether the Office for National Statistics' Citizen Information Project will cover information held by offices and agencies responsible to the Scottish Executive;
	(4)  which parts of the Citizen Information Project's current work programme includes matters of responsibility for the Scottish Executive; and what reporting procedures have been put in place for this work.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Ms Annabelle Ewing, dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions on the Citizen Information Project. I am replying in his absence. (147920, 147921, 147922, 147923).
	The work announced by the Chief Secretary on 6 January is about the development of a UK population register. The aim is to cover the UK because a number of the public sector organisations (such as UK Passport Service, Inland Revenue) that might supply basic data to construct the register, and that are among the potential users of the register, cover the whole of the UK. The current work is on project definition, to explore more fully the potential scope of a register and to develop a more detailed proposal.
	The Chancellor has not met Scottish Ministers to discuss this work, but the project team has been in close touch with the Registrar General for Scotland and Scottish Executive officials, who have kept Scottish Executive Ministers informed of developments. The Chief Secretary has corresponded with his Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Scotland, on several occasions. The issue of how the register might be used and taken forward in Scotland will be considered during this next stage of the project. Should legislation be required, it would be for the Scottish Parliament to decide whether any register should be used to support the administration of devolved services.
	The project team will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations, other government departments, agencies and local authorities. The Scottish Executive was represented, by the Head of its 21st Century Government Unit, on the Steering Group for the project's feasibility study. The Scottish Executive and the General Register Office for Scotland will be similarly involved in the governance of the current stage of the project.
	No secondments of staff to the CEP team from any organisation have yet been arranged for the current stage of the project.
	I am copying this letter to the Registrar General for Scotland.

Consumer Education

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cross-government spending is on education for consumers on (a) financial services and (b) consumer credit, broken down by Department.

Ruth Kelly: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	We are, however, seeking to inform the work of the Financial Capability Steering Group, which informs policy development work by the Financial Services Authority, with a survey of the financial education, information and generic advice work of the principal Departments involved.

Council Tax

Huw Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on council tax increases for 200405 of the 406 million announced in the Pre-Budget statement for local authorities in Great Britain.

Paul Boateng: The additional 406 million announced by the Chancellor includes 340 million for local authorities in England. This means that, including the additional resources announced at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement, the Government is making an additional 760 million in grant available for local authorities in England, over and above what the last spending review originally allocated. Total Government support next year will total 54.5 billionup from 50.8 billion for 2003/04 on a like for like basis. That represents an increase, in real terms, of 30 per cent. in central government support since 1997 and is the second year in succession that all authorities have received an above inflation increase in government grant.
	Taken together with the further 750 million reduction in ring fencing that we announced in November, the additional support being provided underlines the Government's commitment to ensuring that local authorities can provide decent local services without making excessive demands on local taxpayers.
	The Government believes that next year local authorities can and should deliver council tax increases in low single figures. However, decisions on council tax levels are a matter for local authorities, in consultation with their local residents, not for the Government.
	Decisions on local government funding in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the allocation of the additional resources provided by the Chancellor, are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive, reflecting their own priorities and circumstances in the normal way.

Death Statistics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of suicides in the UK in 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mrs. Iris Robinson dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what estimate has been made of the number of suicides in the UK in 2003. I am replying in his absence. (148837)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2002. There were 5,736 deaths 1 with a verdict of suicide or undetermined intent 2 in the United Kingdom in 2002.
	1 Data for England and Wales are for deaths occurring in the calendar year. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are for deaths registered in the calendar year.
	2 Causes of death were defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-IO) codes X60-X84 and YIO-Y34 for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and X60-X84 and YIO-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending for England and Wales.

Death Statistics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drownings there were in the UK in 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mrs. Iris Robinson dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many drownings there were in the UK in 2003.1 am replying in his absence. (148839)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2002. There were 646 deaths 1 from drowning 2 in the United Kingdom in 2002.
	1 Data for England and Wales are for deaths occurring in the calendar year. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are for deaths registered in the calendar year.
	2 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) code 775.7.

Economically Inactive Young People

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many economically inactive persons aged 18 to 24 there are; and what the number was in April 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. George Osborne, dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economically inactive people aged 18 to 24. I am replying in his absence. (148851)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) gives information about economic inactivity for each three month period, but not for individual months. The latest available estimate, for the three month period ending November 2003, is that there were 1.32 million economically inactive people aged 18 to 24 resident in the United Kingdom during this period. The estimate for the three month period ending April 1997 is 1.13 million. These estimates are seasonally adjusted.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.

European Council of Finance Ministers

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Ecofin meeting on 16 December 2003, including the Government's positions on the different issues discussed.

Ruth Kelly: The Ecofin meeting scheduled for 16 December 2003 was cancelled by the Italian Presidency.

Financial Services

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research has been commissioned on the impact of recent developments in the life assurance and pension industry on the capital structure of organisations offering such services; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the impact of changes in the reporting of the financial position of insurance companies on those that have a mutual structure; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Authority has developed a 'twin peaks' approach to the requirements for capital to support with-profits liabilities. This compares the capital required on a prudent regulatory basis with that needed on a realistic basis to meet payments made to policyholders, including terminal bonuses. The regulator will consider the impact on individual firms, including those that have a mutual structure, and on the industry as part of further development of its reserving proposals.

Financial Services

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact that the Basel II accords on capital adequacy will have on mutual financial organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The new Basel Accord will be an international agreement on prudential capital, applying mainly to internationally active banks. Implementation of the new Basel Accord in Europe will be through a new Capital Adequacy Directive, which is expected to have a broader scope covering credit institutions and investment firms (as was the case for the implementation of the existing Basel Accord). That broader scope will encompass some mutual organisations, for example building societies, although the detailed boundaries are yet to be determined. The Treasury will assess the European Commissions formal proposals in the usual way once they are issued.

Financial Services

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he estimates recent changes in the regulatory regime for insurance companies will have on (a) projections of future returns of policy holders and (b) the anticipated benefits of their mutual structure; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The rules governing projections for policyholders are set out in the Financial Services Authority Handbook under Conduct of Business. It is for individual companies to ensure that their projections are fair and not misleading. Recent changes to introduce a new realistic reporting regime are intended to provide the regulator with a better picture of the underlying financial strength of the industry, including mutuals.

Income Tax

George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the additional revenue which would be raised from a 1p increase in (a) the standard rate of income tax and (b) the higher rate of income tax;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the additional revenue which a higher rate of income tax of 50 per cent. would produce.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the publication Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs December 2003 on the Treasury website: http://www. hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//AAB247pbr03 trr.pdf. The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.

Inland Revenue

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Inland Revenue inquiry offices have textphone or similar communication aids.

Dawn Primarolo: All Inland Revenue inquiry offices are registered with the BT Typetalk service.

Inland Revenue

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many home visits were conducted by Inland Revenue employees in each of the last five years to provide advice to those incapable of reaching an office.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep a central record of the total number of such visits going back over the last five years. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Inland Revenue

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to establish a disabilities helpline in the Inland Revenue for (a) tax payers and (b) voluntary sector intermediaries who need access to information on disability issues.

Dawn Primarolo: At present the Inland Revenue has no plans to establish a disabilities helpline. Advisers in our telephone contact centres are trained to deal with telephone calls from the full range of taxpayers. We believe that this provides a cost effective approach to meeting taxpayer needs and the flexibility to respond to the differing requirements of our taxpayer base.

Inland Revenue

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of public Inland Revenue offices are equipped with equipment to aid those with hearing impediments.

Dawn Primarolo: When last audited in early 2002, out of a total of 323 of Inland Revenue inquiry offices providing a face to face service, 86 per cent. had portable loop systems and 27 per cent. of them had fixed induction loop systems. We are in the process of carrying out another audit.
	In spring 2003 Inland Revenue introduced a set of national standards for their inquiry offices specifying that they be equipped with a fixed and portable induction loop system, and a crystal listening device. They are progressing to all of their inquiry centres meeting this standard.

Inland Revenue

David Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Inland Revenue frontline staff have received training on disability issues.

Ruth Kelly: All new members of staff receive disability awareness material as part of the Revenue's induction process. In addition during the last three years 22,752 staff (over 32 per cent. of total staff) have attended a training course specifically covering disability issues.
	During the same period over 90 per cent. of staff have received diversity awareness training which included disability related issues.

Inland Revenue

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue office in Chorley is equipped with equipment to aid those with hearing impediments.

Dawn Primarolo: Chorley Inland Revenue Enquiry Office is equipped with portable induction loop equipment.

Insurance Cover (Terrorism)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce an insurance scheme to cover domestic risks during times of terrorist attack.

Ruth Kelly: We do not currently have plans to introduce a Government insurance scheme to provide terrorism insurance for risks to domestic property.

IT Projects

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies, including the (a) start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned cost and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 13 January 2004
	A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

Leak Inquiries

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list occasions on which his Department has conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if he will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from his Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source.

Ruth Kelly: While the Treasury has not itself instigated any formal leak enquiries since 1997, it does co-operate in cross-government preliminary enquiries at the request of other Government Departments attempting to trace the sources of leaked information.
	In line with exemptions 1(a) and 7(b) set out in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it has been the practice of successive governments not to comment on the outcome of such enquiries in order to safeguard security and investigative arrangements.

New Deal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from the New Deal (a) broken down by region and (b) in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (i) since 1997 and (ii) since 2001.

Paul Boateng: Since its introduction the New Deal has helped over 970,000 individuals into work. The following tables show the regional breakdown of jobs found through New Deal programmes. The first table shows data from the programmes introduction from June 1998 onwards, and the second table since April 2001. Both tables include the jobs gained from New Deal programmes for the constituency Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.
	
		Individuals into jobs since beginning of programmes -- Jobs
		
			  NDYP ND25plus NDLP ND50+ 
		
		
			 Jobcentre Plus region
			 Scotland 54,630 18,970 25,000 12,180 
			 North East 36,920 11,780 14,760 6,360 
			 North West 68,060 20,960 34,180 12,710 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 53,060 18,440 24,720 10,660 
			 Wales 31,870 9,180 16,260 7,290 
			 West Midlands 46,860 15,450 19,830 9,940 
			 East Midlands 29,330 10,250 14,230 7,290 
			 East of England 25,550 10,590 14,930 6,880 
			 South East 28,840 12,710 22,110 7,740 
			 London 57,420 27,820 22,360 7,750 
			 South West 30,210 10,970 20,860 9,180 
			  
			  Parliamentary constituency  
			 Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East 1,450 310 560 240 
		
	
	
		Individuals into jobs since April 2001 -- Jobs
		
			  NDYP ND25plus NDLP ND50+ 
		
		
			  Jobcentre Plus region  
			 Scotland 23,450 11,740 15,500 8,060 
			 North East 15,770 6,540 8,650 4,390 
			 North West 27,500 10,990 19,300 8,660 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 20,860 9,860 14,520 6,990 
			 Wales 13,480 4,570 10,250 4,820 
			 West Midlands 20,020 9,140 11,500 6,780 
			 East Midlands 12,060 5,570 8,330 4,940 
			 East of England 9,150 5,100 8,590 4,380 
			 South East 10,180 5,650 12,280 5,040 
			 London 21,770 12,840 12,660 5,140 
			 South West 11,520 5,890 12,830 5,770 
			  
			  Parliamentary constituency  
			 Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East 680 100 340 170 
		
	
	The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) had helped over 20,000 disabled people into work since its introduction. New Deal for Partners has helped over 1,700 people into work, but due to the size of the programmes there is currently no regional or constituency breakdown available for either NDDP or NDP.

Research and Development Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley (i) are benefiting and (ii) have benefited from research and development tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. Claims for research and development tax credits do not disclose where in the UK research and development was performed.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in stamp duty land tax revenues in 200405 from (a) residential property, (b) commercial property, (c) anti tax avoidance measures and (d) securities-related transactions.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 8 January 2004
	Forecast revenues from stamp taxes on Land and Property transactions and transactions in Shares are given in the table below. The forecast yields are consistent with the published PBR forecast. The yield from anti-avoidance measures was published in Table A2.1 of the Budget 2003 report.
	
		 million
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 Stamp Duty 4,800 6,000 
			 Stamp Duty Land Tax 2,700 3,300 
		
	
	The increase in duty on land transactions is in due to the introduction of Stamp Duty Land Tax on 1 December 2003. In particular this will:
	(A) prevent the avoidance of stamp duty that was formerly common in commercial transactions, and
	(B) charge duty on the grant of a new lease in a way that better reflects the economic and commercial reality'
	Separate forecasts of yield for residential and commercial property are not available.

Unemployment (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment in the Chorley constituency has been since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148494)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The annual average number of JSA claimants in the Chorley constituency decreased by 764 from 1,679 in 1997 to 915 in 2003.

Unemployment (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in Chorley; and what the numbers were in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr Lindsay Hoyle, dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (149166)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available for the twelve month period ending February of each year from 1997 to 2002. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table below shows the annual average claimant level in the Chorley constituency for the requested periods. Because of boundary changes the figures for 1990 and 1995 are not directly comparable with the later data.
	
		People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Chorley constituency
		
			 Year Level 
		
		
			 Annual average 1990 (18)2,159 
			 Annual average 1995 (18)2,605 
			 Annual average 2000 1,217 
			 Annual average 2003 915 
		
	
	(18) Figures based on the 1981 census wards.

Unemployment (Middlesbrough)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about levels of unemployment in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and what the rates were in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar dated 19 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148402)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. The unemployment rate in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency for the 12 month period ending February 2002 was 8.1 per cent. The LFS sample size is too small to give comparable information for 1997. LFS estimates are not available at Parliamentary constituency level for 1992. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table following shows the average total level of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants and the percentage of the working age population in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Constituency for 1997 and 2001. Comparable figures for 1992 are not available as the constituency did not exist in its current form at that time.
	
		People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency
		
			  Number (19)Rate 
		
		
			 Annual average 1997 3,462 6.1 
			 Annual average 2001 2,427 4.3 
		
	
	(19) People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of the 2001 Census working age population adjusted to 2001 mid-year population estimates for local authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Trade Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the revision of the generalised system of preferences.

Mike O'Brien: The EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme has traditionally operated for a series of 10-year periods. While we are currently in the cycle for 19952004, revisions of the current scheme were agreed at the end of 2003. Details of these revisions can be found in Official Journal of the EU of 19 December 2003 and 31 December 2003 (Council Regulations No. 2211/2003 and 2331/2003 respectively). The main change was a one-year rollover, with amendments to the graduation criteria. This revised GSP scheme is therefore due to end on 31 December 2005. Proposals for a new GSP scheme will need to be agreed by 31 December 2004, thus providing EU importers with 12 months' notice to plan for changes to duty rates.
	The Commission has indicated its intention to begin the renegotiation process of the EU GSP scheme early this year through regular working party meetings once initial proposals have been published. Officials from my Department will lead on the consultation across Whitehall and industry and, together with colleagues from the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU, make representations on behalf of the UK at these working party meetings. The proposals will be cleared through Parliament by Explanatory Memoranda in the usual way.

Trade Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific States which are party to the Cotonou Agreement.

Mike O'Brien: As outlined in my answer to the hon. Member's question published on 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 696W, no Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has yet been agreed between the EU and an ACP region. Phase I of the negotiations began in September 2002. But the EU only announced the launch of the first EPA negotiations with the Western and Central African regionsCEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) in October 2003. Launches of negotiations between the EU and other ACP regions are expected to take place later this year and to continue over several years. EPAs are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2008.

Aerospace Funding

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the funding of the Aerospace Launch Investment; and if she will break down the costs incurred by main budget head.

Jacqui Smith: Through Launch Investment partnerships the Government supports the design and development of civil aerospace projects in the UK. The information in the DTI's Departmental Report (CM 5916 published in May 2003) on the funding of the AerospaceLaunch Investment (page 85) indicates a working provision for 200203 of Payments of 258.2 million, Receipts (excluding Consolidated Fund Extra Receipt (CFER)) of 66.9 million and Total Receipts of 98.5 million. The actual outturn for 200203 was Payments of 258.2 million, Receipts (excluding CFER) of 80.7 million and Total Receipts of 109.5 million.
	My Department is working closely with the industry in implementing the recommendations from the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AelGT), which reported on 11 June 2003. The Government will continue to consider applications for Launch Investment in conjunction with exploring with Industry ways to attract more private sector finance. Further information on the AelGT can be found on the website of the Society of British Aerospace Companies at http ://www.sbac.co.uk/aeigt/.

BNFL Strategic Review

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 93WS, on the BNFL Strategy Review, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which will result from that body taking responsibiilty for the clean-up of the Springfields site.

Stephen Timms: The White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy, published in July 2002 indicated that the costs associated with clean up of civil nuclear liabilities at the Springfields site would be around 300 million. More detailed work to quantify the precise nature and extent of legacy liabilities at the site is under way to inform the future strategy for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Broadband

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with BT on reducing the trigger numbers required to roll out broadband in smaller market towns.

Stephen Timms: My colleagues and I maintain regular contact with BT across a wide range of issues as we do with other broadband providers. On 17 November 2003, BT announced trigger levels for 2,300 exchanges across the country. BT has also, on more than one occasion, reduced trigger levels which it had previously set. Decisions about which exchanges should be upgraded for ADSL or what trigger levels should be, are for telecommunication companies, such as BT, to make on commercial grounds.
	Lowering of trigger levels may well be one of he benefits of public sector broadband demand aggregation, which is commencing region-by-region in the coming weeks.

Broadband

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will state the percentage coverage of broadband in (a) Lancashire and (b) each Lancashire district.

Stephen Timms: These data are not available within Government.

Cheese Industry

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the cheese industry about the impact of the weakening dollar on the exports of UK-produced cheese; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with representatives of the cheese industry about the impact of the weakening dollar on exports of UK produced cheese. However, Ministers and officials frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the current difficulties facing UK exporters of cheese and other dairy products. Officials raised this issue with the European Commission at the Milk and Milk Products Management Committee on 15 January.

Coal Health

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been paid to date by the Department to solicitors for handling coal health claims, broken down by region.

Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are as below.
	
		 million
		
			  COPDsolicitors costs VWFsolicitors costs 
		
		
			 England 158.2 64.1 
			 Scotland 14.1 4.6 
			 Wales 54.8 10.2 
			 Total 227.1 78.9

Coal Health

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the funding for (a) coal liabilities and (b) coal health liabilities was allocated in 200304; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The allocations, as set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans are:
	
		 million
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 20034 
		
		
			 Coal Liabilities 226 131.6 1 16.8 209.6 179 131. 1 93. 3 
			 Coal Health(20) Inc. in above 123.2 228.2 648 829.5 850 850 
		
	
	(20) These figures are provisional allocations. There is no cap to the allocation of funding for coal health liabilities, as the Treasury would make available to the Department whatever it takes to fund coal health claims.

Company Annual Reports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to bring forward legislation requiring companies to publish in their annual reports (a) a table showing the annual (i) pre-tax profits and (ii) tax paid in each country and (b) transfer prices for intergroup transactions.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Companies Act 1985 already requires companies to disclose their pre-tax profits and their tax charge split between UK and non-UK. There are no plans to change these requirements, or to introduce company reporting requirements on transfer pricing. Transfer pricing is taken account of in tax legislation.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in the Department to North Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans she has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in her Department to the regions; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 516W.

Departmental Staff

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by her Department in each year since 1992, broken down by Department.

Patricia Hewitt: The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Civil Service numbers showing staff in post figures going back to April 1990. These are available on their website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/archive-sip.htm

Employment Tribunals

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal cases in each year since 1999 took (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months to issue a decision.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 12 January 2004
	For each of the last four financial years, based on the information currently held in the Employment Tribunals Service's statistical database, the number of Employment Tribunal decisions recorded as having been issued three months or more after the hearing date were:
	
		
			  (a) (b) (c) (d) 
			  Three to six months Six to nine months Nine to 12 months 12+ months 
		
		
			 19992000 94 17 6 17 
			 200001 142 21 20 14 
			 200102 150 32 4 6 
			 200203 144 20 4 7 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service.
	The Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) has a target to issue 85 per cent. of decisions within four weeks of the final hearing. In each of the last four financial years, ETS achieved the following percentages of decisions issued within that time:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 19992000 84 
			 200001 86 
			 200102 83 
			 200203 86 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service.

Engagements

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she was in the United Kingdom for the whole of 13 January.

Patricia Hewitt: Yes.

Engagements

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list her engagements for 13 January.

Patricia Hewitt: I had a full programme of departmental and private appointments.

European Structural Funds

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the additionality requirements under the European Structural Funds regulations have been met by the UK Objective 1 programmes at their mid-term stage.

Jacqui Smith: There are no specific additionality requirements that have to be met under the European Structural Funds regulations at the mid-term point. The purpose of the mid-term verification exercise is to determine whether a member state's economic position has changed to the extent that some adjustment is required to its programmes.
	As stated in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 701W, data supplied to the Commission in December for the UK Objective 1 programmes demonstrated that for each programme the average annual expenditure for the period 200002 was equal to or better than that forecast in the 200006 ex-ante tables published in the original Single Programming Documents for each Objective 1 area. As a result, there will be no need for adjustment of any of the Objective 1 programmes.

Fuel Poverty (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many fuel poor households there are in each district council area in Cambridgeshire; and what her estimate is of how many (a) children and (b) elderly people are living in fuel poor households.

Nigel Griffiths: The available information from the English House Condition Survey indicates that, in 2001, there were 139,000 fuel poor households in the Eastern Region. This is based on fuel poverty defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on all fuels in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.
	More detailed breakdowns within the Eastern Region are not available from this survey as the sample size is not large enough to enable reliable detailed estimates of fuel poverty at a more local level to be produced.

Gas Quality

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the written statement of 8 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1314WS, on gas quality, what assessment she has made of the number of domestic appliances that would require (a) replacement and (b) modification as a consequence of change to the upper Wobbe Index limit for domestic gas supplies; and what assessment has been made of the cost of (i) processing and (ii) blending.

Stephen Timms: The Department is considering these important issues, working together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Office for Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), and other interested parties, with a view to preparing the public consultation document referred to in my written parliamentary statement of 8 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1314WS.

Industrial Disease

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average full and final settlement paid to former miners and their families is for (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how many settlements were less than (i) 1,000, (ii) 500 and (iii) 200.

Nigel Griffiths: To date the figures are:
	
		
			 Settlement value COPD VWF 
		
		
			 Less than 1,000 21,418 2,647 
			 Less than 500 9,475 193 
			 Settlements less than 200 3,413 8 
			 Average settlement value(21) 7,729 8,168 
		
	
	(21) Excludes denials.

Industrial Disease

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the full and final settlements for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were reduced because of a smoking history; what percentage of the total number of such settlements this represents; and what the average value was of the reductions made.

Nigel Griffiths: As of mid January 2004 the number of full and final settlements reduced because of a smoking history is 59,993. This represents 64 per cent of total settlements.

Manufacturing Jobs

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs have been created in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: Although it is possible to give net change figures for manufacturing jobs in Lancashire and Chorley (see table) information about the number of jobs created is not kept in an easily accessible form. It is not therefore possible to answer this question accurately.
	
		Total numbers of manufacturing jobs by year
		
			  Chorley Lancashire 
		
		
			 2000 4,300 129,100 
			 2001 3,800 117,600 
			 2002 3,400 115,700

Miners' Compensation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure the fastest possible completion of compensation payments to former miners for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI is working closely with the medical assessment organisation, IRISC, (The Department's claims handlers), solicitors and other representatives of miners and their families to process and settle claims as quickly as possible. So far almost 2 billion has been paid to over 300,000 such miners, their widows and families.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many solicitors firms are known to have charged additional fees, above agreed Government fees, for miners' compensation.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 13 January 2004
	On 18 December 2003 I wrote to all 515 firms of solicitors dealing with coal health claims, seeking clarification of whether they charged additional fees and asking those solicitors who had taken a proportion of miners' compensation to repay the money to claimants and their families. I have asked that they provide a response by the 23 January 2004.
	To date I have received 160 replies, who all but one have confirmed that they do not double charge. We believe that certainly three other firms have been charging some additional fees, one of which has agreed to repay them.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of the arrangements agreed are between her Department and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers with regard to the union's subsidiary company established to process claims under the miners' compensation scheme.

Nigel Griffiths: The term of the Claim Handling Agreement for all miners' compensation schemes are available in the Libraries of the House or on web.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has made representations to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers about the union's policy on charging legal fees for processing miners' compensation claims.

Stephen Timms: No, nor has the hon. Member ever asked me to.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which organisations her Department wrote in December 2003 in relation to legal fees in the Miners' Compensation Scheme; and if she will publish the texts of the letters.

Nigel Griffiths: I have placed a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

Mobile Phone Companies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the chief executives of (a) O2 and (b) Orange.

Stephen Timms: I last met with John Allwood CE Orange UK on 17 December 2003 and Dave McGlade CEO O2 on 18 November 2003. Officials meet regularly with both companies.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not met on a one-to-one basis with either Chief Executive.

Nanotechnology

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the patenting of carbon molecules as part of nanotechnology development.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 January 2004
	The policy relating to the patenting of carbon molecules in the field of nanotechnology is that the usual patentability criteria, including novelty, inventive step and industrial application, must be satisfied.

National Grid

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the maintenance work that needs to be carried out on the National Grid; and if she will hold meetings with National Grid Transco to discuss the matter.

Stephen Timms: National Grid's maintenance regime is being considered as part of the DTI's Engineering Inspectorate investigation into the major power failures in London on 28 August 2003 and in Birmingham on 5 September 2003. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to meet with representatives from National Grid Transco shortly.

North West Regional Development Agency

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley have been helped by the North West Regional Development Agency.

Jacqui Smith: I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) Chief Executive that the NWDA does not monitor its outputs by sub region or town.
	The NWDA are working with all Sub Regional Partnerships on a sub regional agenda to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

North West Regional Development Agency

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money from the North West Regional Development Agency has been spent in (a) Cumbria, (b) Lancashire, (c) Greater Manchester, (d) Merseyside and (e) Cheshire in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) Chief Executive that the NWDA does not allocate its funding on a sub-region basis. NWDA's total expenditure for the last three financial years was:
	
		millions
		
			 Financial Year Expenditure 
		
		
			 200304 (22)345 
			 200203 306 
			 200102 292 
		
	
	(22) Budget

Olympic Bid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the Royal Mail donating money to London's Olympic bid.

Stephen Timms: The decision by Royal Mail to donate money to London's Olympic bid is an operational matter for the board of the company.

Parliamentary Debates

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons for her decision not to respond to the debate on the future of the Post Office in Her Majesty's Official Opposition time initiated by the Shadow Secretary of State for Industry, the hon. Member for Eddisbury.

Patricia Hewitt: Even though the debate was on an opposition motion, no Shadow Cabinet Minister was present on the opposition Front Bench, and there was therefore no automatic need for a Secretary of State to be present. On behalf of the Government, my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services made an excellent speech.

Personal Computers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the 500 annual exemption from the taxable benefit on loaned personal computers introduced in the Finance Act 1999; and what steps are being taken to promote awareness of the exemption.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information on which to make an estimate is not available. But on 19 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry launched a major campaign, the Home Computing Initiative, to encourage employers to take advantage of this exemption and lend computers to their employees.

Personal Computers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of private sector employees who received computers as a result of employer-provided home computing initiatives in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.

Post Office

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what talks she has had with trade unions over the future of the Post Office.

Stephen Timms: DTI Ministers and officials meet with union representatives on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues.

Post Office

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) job losses in the Post Office and (b) the future of the Post Office.

Stephen Timms: Job losses in Royal Mail are an operational matter for the Board of Royal Mail in consultation with the unions. They are regrettable, but the Government accepts that cuts are necessary to stem company losses. The company is committed to achieving this through natural wastage, voluntary redundancy and redeployment of surplus staff within other parts of the business, under an agreement reached with the unions.
	The company is now in year two of its three-year renewal programme to secure the future of the company. Progress is encouraging so far, but there is still some way to go. The Government is looking to the Royal Mail Board to drive through the renewal programme and return the company to profitability.

Post Office

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future post office network in Chorley.

Stephen Timms: The Government remain fully committed to maintaining a nationwide network of post offices and have invested very substantial sums in supporting the modernisation of the network. I understand that Post Office Ltd. expects to put forward for public consultation its area plan proposals under the urban reinvention programme for Chorley constituency in February or March.

Post Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer given on 8 January 2004, Official Report, column 445W, on post offices, what changes there have been to (a) the number of post offices in each constituency and (b) the number which transact more than 40 per cent. of their work volumes on behalf of the Benefits Agency since 9 January 2003.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd. updates annually its list by parliamentary constituency of post offices, classified as urban or rural. The most recent list available shows the position as at end April 2003 and a copy is available in the Libraries of the House.
	A special exercise was undertaken by the Post Office in 1999 to determine the numbers of post offices in each parliamentary constituency and how many of them derive more than 40 per cent. of their income from benefits work. That information is set out in the reply given to the then hon. Member for Birmingham on 29 November 1999, Official Report, column 22W, and remains the latest information available in
	that form.

Post Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which post office branches in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in England have (a) been the subject of a closure consultation, (b) had their proposal (i) modified and (ii) withdrawn after public consultation and (c) closed as a result of the Urban Reinvention Programme.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme following public consultation are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sub-postmasters of branches in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in England have (a) applied for compensation to close their business and (b) been successful in their application; and how much has been paid to them to date.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on compensation to sub-postmasters are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition of contiguous population is used by the Post Office for classification of post offices as urban for the purposes of closure; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The classification of a post office branch as urban or rural is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Mapped contiguous built up areas with a population exceeding 10,000 are classified by the company as urban. The company uses a geographical mapping model that enables it to adopt a consistent approach to classification across the country.

Post Office

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when sub-post offices in Taunton will learn whether they will be considered for closure under the network re-invention programme.

Stephen Timms: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that urban reinvention area plan proposals for Taunton are scheduled for June 2004.

Post Office

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank.

Stephen Timms: As a result of the Secretary of State's discussions with the clearing banks to set up universal banking at the Post Office, the major financial institutions, including the Scottish clearing banks, agreed to provide access at post offices to their basic bank accounts. Those services were launched on schedule on 1 April 2003.
	Access to other current accounts at post offices is a commercial matter between the Post Office and individual banks. It is Post Office Ltd. strategy to increase access to banking services. The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. But the decision to do so rests with the individual institutions.

Post Office

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural sub-post offices closed in (a) England and (b) Somerset in each quarter in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd. maintain net quarterly closure figures by region/country, not by county and local authority. Decisions on post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are in place for evaluating the performance of projects undertaken by regional development agencies.

Jacqui Smith: All RDA projects have to be appraised within the rules of Government Accounting and Treasury's Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government Guide (The Green Book).
	To supplement this higher level guidance, the Department has worked closely with RDAs, other Departments and the Office of Project Appraisal Training to produce the Single Programme Appraisal Guidance. The guidance covers project appraisal and evaluation of completed projects. The appraisal itself must contain an evaluation plan specific to the project, and after the project is completed, the RDA to carry out a formal evaluation and report the results. In addition, DTI has reserved the right to call in any project for post appraisal and implementation monitoring. Now that RDAs have been in operation for four years, significant numbers of projects are entering their evaluation stages.
	To ensure compliance with the guidance, each RDA has a project performance and evaluation team of senior officers who are tasked with determining the success of the project, to identify lessons to be incorporated into other projects and to improve processes.

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to measure the (a) success and (b) effectiveness of regional development agencies.

Jacqui Smith: The Regional Development Agencies; funding is tied to a framework of targets relating to their functions, and responsibility for the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achievement of these targets sits with the Government Office in each region. Their reports provide Ministers with the information required to measure the success and effectiveness of RDAs by assessing their progress towards achievement of targets and delivery of their Regional Economic Strategies and Corporate Plans.

Research and Development Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new (a) products, (b) services and (c) processes have been developed by firms benefiting from the introduction of research and development tax credits in each year since their introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not available. Companies are not required to agree specific products or processes in advance with the Inland Revenue in order to claim research and development tax credits. So far there have been 8,000 claims and over 6,000 companies have benefited from research and development tax credits.

Research and Development Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on research and development tax credits in each quarter since their introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The available data on the cost of the research and development tax credits provided to SMEs, by quarter, are set out as follows. The costs are on a receipts basis, showing when the cost has been incurred by the Inland Revenue, we expect costs in the latest quarters to increase as further claims are received. Information on claims from large companies is not yet available.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 2000  
			 Q2 6,297 
			 Q3 747 
			 Q4 73,685 
			   
			 2001  
			 Q1 913,963 
			 Q2 5,087,103 
			 Q3 12,857,568 
			 Q4 23,443,820 
			   
			 2002  
			 Q1 29,210,686 
			 Q2 44,627,755 
			 Q3 47,382,286 
			 Q4 66,392,398 
			   
			 2003  
			 Q1 75,042,704 
			 Q2 69,326,644 
			 Q3 67,097,095

Research and Development Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have benefited from research and development tax credits in each quarter since their introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not have figures for the number of companies that have claimed the research and development tax credit by quarter, although we had over 8,000 individual claims and over 6,000 individual companies have benefited since the tax credits were introduced. The available figures for the number of claims received from SME's so far for research and development tax credits, by quarter, are set out as follows. Information on claims from large companies is not yet available. Claims are made by companies retrospectively and therefore we expect the number of claims in later quarters to increase further as more claims as received.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000  
			 Q2 185 
			 Q3 271 
			 Q4 644 
			   
			 2001  
			 Q1 668 
			 Q2 530 
			 Q3 589 
			 Q4 1,219 
			   
			 2002  
			 Q1 936 
			 Q2 767 
			 Q3 766 
			 Q4 1,195 
			   
			 2003  
			 Q1 434 
			 Q2 143 
			 Q3 27

Post Offices

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of (a) the network reinvention programme and (b) the rural subsidy for sub-post offices.

Stephen Timms: Post Office Ltd. (POL) reports on the urban reinvention programme on a quarterly basis. As at the end of December 2003:
	694 offices had closed under the programme (with payments to sub-postmasters totalling 38,111,410);
	46 proposals had been withdrawn or delayed for reworking during the advance notification process agreed with the consumer body Postwatch;
	a further 66 proposals had been withdrawn or amended as a result of the public consultation. POL had approved 388 applications totalling 1.3 million for investment grants to modernise remaining post offices.
	Regarding the rural subsidy, which I announced on 2 December 2003, this is in place and is being drawn down by Post Office Ltd. to underpin its obligation to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closures. 450 million has been made available over three years (200304, 200405 and 2006). This funding is having the desired impact with rural closures much reduced; the lowest number since 199495. There were 115 net closures in the financial year 200203

Call Centres

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government support is available for the setting up of call centres, with particular reference to rural areas.

Stephen Timms: There is no specific Government support for the setting up of call centres in rural areas. However there is a range of business support available in certain circumstances including regional selective assistance (RSA). RSA is available to support investment and the creation or safeguarding of jobs in the assisted areas for viable projects that benefit regional and national economies and which without RSA would not go ahead.
	The DTI invests l billion a year in support of business and of that sum 400500 million is spent on business support schemes. RSA with an annual budget of 110 million is one of the largest business support schemes. Our aim is to use this money in a way that ensures the best possible return on investment for the UK and makes a real difference to business performance.

Small Business

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how funding allocated as other support for small business has been awarded in 200304; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to Chapter 8 of the DTI Departmental Report 2003(Cm 5916) which sets out expenditure on small business programmes as a whole; and in particular to figure 8.5 on page 104 of that report (reproduced below). The figures in the table below incorporate those in Annex Bl on page 207 of the Report, including funding allocated as Other Support for Small Business.
	
		Figure 8.5 Expenditure on small business and enterprise Main estimates 200304 RfRl Functions A, M and V (promotion of enterprise, innovation and productivity) --  million
		
			  200102 Outturn 200203 Working Provision 200304 Plans 200405 Plans 200506 Plans 
		
		
			 Small Business Service (and corresponding earlier activity) 274.8 423.4 404.8 367.0 387.0 
			 Of which: Local Network(23) 141.2 143.4 144.0 144.0 144.0 
			 Farm Business Advice Service (gross) 4.8 7.5 2.3 0 0 
			 Business Link call handling and website 9.2 21.4 12.0 12.0 12.0 
			 Business .Gov 0 6.3 7.7 15.0 35.0 
			 Phoenix Fund 12.9 35.0 30.0 25.0 25.0 
			 DTI spend on TCS and STEP 13.7 17.2 18.5 18.5 18.5 
			 Enterprise Fund (including SFLGS net) 39.2 93.9 87.5 87.5 87.5 
			 Smart 23.7 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 
			 Enterprise Grants 0 17.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 
			 Business Incubation Fund 0 20.0 25.0 0 0 
			 Other Support 30.1 34.7 26.8 14.0 14.0 
		
	
	(23) The Local Network includes Start-ups; Core Services funding; and Local Network Development.
	Similar information on expenditure on small business and enterprise is contained within corresponding reports for earlier years (Cm 5416; Cm 5112; Cm 4611; Cm 4211), although direct comparisons may be inappropriate due to departmental reorganisation. The outturn for those years was as follows:
	
		 million
		
			 199798Outturn 199899 Outturn 199900 Outturn 200001 Outturn 
		
		
			  
			  
			 171.3 152.0 194.1 277.2

Spectrum Efficiency Scheme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how funding for the Spectrum Efficiency Scheme has been allocated since the scheme's inception; and what amounts have been allocated in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: Arrangements for the Spectrum Efficiency Scheme were agreed between DTI and Treasury in 2002. Only one year of funding for 200304 was agreed at the time owing to the transfer of the Radiocommunications Agency's functions into Ofcom.
	The Spectrum Efficiency Scheme had an annual budget of 5 million in 200304 as agreed in the 2000 Spending Review. There are two components to this budget; (1) compensation payments for spectrum replanning and (2) research.
	No compensation payments were made during 200304 but research contracts were let to the value of 2,866,000.
	Details of the contracts awarded in 200304 are available on the Ofcom website(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/rahome.hto
	A call for expressions of interest in the research element of the 200405 Spectrum Efficiency Scheme has just been announced by Ofcom. The budget of 5 million is expected to be shared between compensation payments for spectrum replanning, and research.

Statutory Sick Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people employed in her Department have claimed statutory sick pay for (a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The work involved for my Department to gather the requested information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
	The recent AON Limited report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service, 2002 is a useful source of reference for some sickness absence data.

Trade Statistics

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of United Kingdom trade has been with (a) Singapore, (b) Thailand, (c) Malaysia, (d) Vietnam, (e) Cambodia and (f) Laos in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information is in the following table.
	
		UK trade in goods with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos January to October --  million
		
			 Country 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 UK exports 
			 Singapore 1,615 1,604 1,627 1,604 1,459 1,288 
			 Thailand 391 466 581 596 532 469 
			 Malaysia 683 940 910 1,033 882 892 
			 Vietnam 68 79 93 90 80 88 
			 Cambodia 6 4 4 3 4 3 
			 Laos 2 5 4 2 2 3 
			  
			 UK imports 
			 Singapore 2,463 2,451 2,485 2,146 2,031 2,306 
			 Thailand 1,329 1,347 1,661 1,669 1,608 1,395 
			 Malaysia 1,991 2,040 2,374 2,012 1,796 1,586 
			 Vietnam 244 306 385 428 488 501 
			 Cambodia 24 43 55 85 89 81 
			 Laos 5 9 5 7 10 7 
		
	
	Source
	Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise.

Vehicle Exports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the car industry on exports of UK built (a) cars, (b) vans and (c) trucks.

Jacqui Smith: I have frequent discussions with individual automotive manufacturers and with the SMMT, covering a broad range of issues touching on the competitiveness of the automotive industry, including those which impact on exports. It has been pleasing to see that manufacturers in the UK have in general been very successful in improving their export performance over recent years, often in markets which have been particularly tough.

Vehicle Exports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the number of new UK built (a) cars, (b) vans and (c) trucks exported in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: A breakdown of UK vehicle production for export is attached. The light commercial vehicle figure comprises vans, and also van-derived minibuses. Full figures for 2003 are yet to be published, but the table includes an estimate based on published data to end-November.
	
		
			  Cars Light CVs Heavy CVs Buses 
		
		
			 2000 1,062,990 71,667 4,220 294 
			 2001 894,204 91,127 4,776 321 
			 2002 1,047,668 109,308 4,702 225 
			 2003 estimate 1,137,000 96,700 4,200 200

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the members of the World Trade Organisation, broken down by the size of their (a) gross domestic product and (b) per capita income.

Mike O'Brien: The Government do not produce their own data on these categorisations, but instead draw on publicly available information produced by international organisations such as the IMF and the World Bank. I will write to the hon. Member enclosing this information and will place a copy of the letter in both Libraries of the House.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Fines

Eric Forth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the revenue cost as a result of (a) unpaid and (b) uncollected fines in the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of fines were not (a) paid and (b) collected in the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. A new data collection procedure was implemented in 19992000. Comparable figures are therefore only available from that period, and are set out in the table.
	In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.
	The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.
	
		England and Wales
		
			 Period Total imposed Total paid Payment rate (%)(24) Total arrears outstanding(25) 
		
		
			 19992000 431,111,249 267,326,873 62 227,361,076 
			 200001 384,958,059 242,455,701 63 225,908,941 
			 200102 387,020,885 228,122,287 59 246,481,521 
			 200203 425,863,782 236,320,110 55 276,870,306 
			 April-November 2003 247,135,001 139,353,460 72 (26) 
		
	
	(24) Payment rate percentage for periods 19992000, 200001, 200102, and 200203 was based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicially cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April-November 2003 and previous years.
	(25) Total arrrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years
	(26) Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available

Fines

Robert Syms: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of fines levied by the courts were collected in full in the last year for which figures are available.

Christopher Leslie: Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. Figures for the financial year 200203 are set out in the table.
	In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.
	The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.
	
		England and Wales
		
			 Period Total imposed Total paid Payment rate %(27) Total arrears outstanding(28) 
		
		
			 200203 425,863,782 236,320,110 55 276,870,306 
			 April-November 2003 247,135,001 139,353,460 72 (29) 
		
	
	(27) Payment rate percentage for 200203 is based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicial cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April- November 2003 and previous years.
	(28) Total arrrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years
	(29) Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available

Immigration Appellate System

David Crausby: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was in each of the last five years of the administration of the Immigration Appellate System.

David Lammy: The costs of the administration of the Immigration Appellate system in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 (30)67.3 
			 19992000 (30)77.5 
			 200001 116.8 
			 200102 181.1 
			 200203 269.8 
		
	
	(30) The costs of administration of the Immigration Appellate System for these years are estimates. Detailed financial reporting information was not available to capture the full cost of administering the process.
	These figures include the cost of administering the Immigration Appellate Authority, the Legal Services Commission, provision of legal aid and the Department for Constitutional Affairs Asylum Policy and Programme Division.
	The rising costs reflect a significantly increased caseload (reflecting the clearance of the backlog of cases) and the Government priority that has been given to fast and effective processing of asylum claimsin order to ensure the end to end system is as cost effective as possible.

Access to Justice

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures are being taken to increase access to justice for the disadvantaged.

David Lammy: Since the introduction of the Community Legal Service (CLS) in 2000, it has improved access for those who are financially eligible to good quality civil legal and advice services. In many areas local CLS providers have linked up with other government programmes jointly to help people climb out of social exclusion.
	Spending on the CLS in 200203 totalled 814 million and is expected to rise to 913 million for 200304. The eligibility criteria for assistance and the identification of priority unmet need within CLS Partnership Strategic Plans ensure that help is given to those most in need.
	For the Criminal Defence Service (CDS), the Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. It has established a Public Defender Service in eight offices. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission continues to provide CDS arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services. Spending on the CDS in 200203 totalled 1,095.7 million and is expected to rise to 1,202.9 million for 200304.
	My Department and the Commission, with the help of independent consultants, is carrying out a major review of the CLS, including an examination of the extent to which the CLS ensures access to justice, and a review of supply, demand and purchasing arrangements for both the CLS and the CDS. We hope to publish the findings on the reviews soon.

Access to Justice

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Department is taking to ensure access to justice.

David Lammy: My Department, together with the Legal Services Commission, continues to develop the Community Legal Service (CLS). The CLS ensures that publicly funded legal services are targeted more effectively at areas of priority need as identified at a local level by Community Legal Service Partnerships. Since the launch of the CLS in April 2000 more than 200 Community Legal Service Partnerships have been set up, covering more than 99 per cent. of the population of England and Wales. Spending on the CLS in 200203 totalled 814 million and is expected to reach 913 million in 200304.
	For the Criminal Defence Service the Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. It has established a Public Defender Service in eight offices. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission continues to provide CDS arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services. Spending on the CDS in 200203 totalled 1,095.7 million and is expected to rise to 1,202.9 million for 200304.
	My Department and the Commission, with the help of independent consultants, is carrying out a major reviews of CLS, including an examination of the extent to which the CLS ensures access to justice and of supply, demand and purchasing arrangements for both the CLS and the CDS. We hope to be able to publish the findings on the reviews in due course.

Access to Justice

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the funding allocation for video equipment in courts was for each of the last seven years; and by what percentage it changed in each of those years relative to the proceeding year.

Christopher Leslie: Prior to 2000, funding for video equipment was provided from local budgets and there is no central record of overall expenditure.
	My Department spending on video equipment for prison links vulnerable and intimidated witness cases, electronic presentation of evidence cases and playback of police interviews is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Amount () Percentage change 
		
		
			 200001 1,350,000  
			 200102 5,170,000 282 
			 200203 2,950,000 -42 
			 200304 5,700,000 93

Courts Service

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what system is in place within the Department to ensure that concerns about practical issues impacting negatively on the business of courts from those judges responsible for modernisation in the courts are brought to the attention of the relevant Minister and responded to accordingly.

Christopher Leslie: The Secretary of State and Ministers meet senior members of the judiciary periodically, and modernisation issues are among those discussed.
	In addition, we have agreed and put in place detailed consultation arrangements with the judiciary to ensure their views are reflected fully in the modernisation programme. I am briefed by officials on issues arising from these consultations.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment the Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements;
	(3)  what assessment the Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in the Department to North Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans he has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in the Department to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 516W.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff in the Department work in (a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire.

Christopher Leslie: The Department and its agencies (the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) employs:
	(a) 689 staff in West Midlands, of which 49 are casual employees and
	(b) 159 staff in Staffordshire of which eight are casual employees.

Electoral Fraud

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for entry on the electoral register have been found to be fraudulent since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: This information is not collected centrally. In its report on the electoral registration process, published in May 2003, the independent Electoral Commission commented that the number of electoral fraud prosecutions in Great Britain is small.

Euro

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many speeches during 2003 (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State declared support for the Government's policy on the euro.

Christopher Leslie: I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 516W.

Gender Recognition

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent steps the Department has taken to promote gender recognition.

David Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for Government policy on transsexual people and for the Gender Recognition Bill. The Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords on 27 November, will see the advancement of the rights of transsexual people by giving them legal recognition in their acquired gender. From the inception in 1999 of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People the Government have been careful to take into account the views of all those with an interest in transsexual issues, supporters and opponents. Transsexual people are a small minority group in our society and the issues around the recognition of an acquired gender are often unfamiliar to those not directly affected. Accordingly, the Government have worked closely with individual transsexual people and their representative organisations to better understand the issues and to ensure that the Bill strikes a sensible balance between their rights and the rights of others. The Department's promotion of gender recognition issues has been limited to correspondence and meetings with the transsexual community and those who have expressed views on Transsexual policy and the Bill. My Department will continue to ensure that it regularly updates its website on transsexual issues, including the Gender Recognition Bill.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Richard Bacon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's proposals for the judicial review of the decisions of immigration appeal tribunals.

David Lammy: The Government has introduced measures in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants Etc) Bill to establish a new single Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. This will merge the two current tiers of appeal in asylum and immigration cases. The judicial determinations and decisions made by the new Tribunal will be final and can only be challenged in the higher courts on the grounds that a Tribunal Member has acted in bad faith.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether a case remitted by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal may be returned to the original adjudicator.

David Lammy: Pursuant to Rule 22 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 2003, the Immigration Appeal Tribunal may direct a remitted appeal to be returned to the original adjudicator to determine in accordance with any directions given by the tribunal.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of appeals remitted back from the Immigration Appeals Tribunal to the adjudicators in 200203 were subsequently upheld by adjudicators.

David Lammy: Statistical assessment of cases remitted by the tribunal to the adjudicators indicates that in approximately 25 per cent. of remitted asylum cases this leads to the initial adjudicator decision being changed. Between 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003 (the last full year for which information is available) this equates to 1.6 per cent. of all adjudicator asylum decisions having a different outcome following remittal and re-hearing.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the possible outcomes of the remittal process are, with respect to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal.

David Lammy: Once an appeal has been remitted from the Immigration Appeal Tribunal to the adjudicator tier of the Immigration Appellate Authority the appeal is most commonly heard by a different adjudicator, or more rarely, by the original adjudicator. The possible outcomes from the remittal process are for the appeal to be allowed, to be dismissed or withdrawn by the appellant. Following a fresh adjudicator determination, parties again have rights to seek permission to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in what circumstances appeals are remitted back from the Immigration Appeals Tribunal to the adjudicators; what guidance is given to the tribunal on remittals; and what training tribunal members have had on remittals.

David Lammy: Appeals are remitted from the Immigration Appeal Tribunal when a defect in the original adjudicator determination is revealed which the Tribunal cannot correct itself. The President of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal has not issued a formal Practice Direction relating to the remittal of appeals, but Tribunal members will take the decision to remit a case where there is no practicable alternative. Decisions are taken in the light of the overriding objective in rule 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 2003: to secure the just, timely and effective disposal of appeals and applications in the interests of the parties to the proceedings and in the wider public interest. Training for Tribunal judiciary includes reference to the application of procedural rules and guidance.

Immigration Appeal Tribunals

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of appeals which are (a) successful, (b) dismissed, (c) withdrawn and (d) remitted back to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal are (i) appeals by asylum claimants and (ii) appeals by immigration authorities.

David Lammy: At the adjudicator asylum appeal, the two parties are the asylum seeker and the Home Secretary (as the initial decision-maker). Either party can apply for permission to appeal to the Tribunal and, if permission is granted, the appeal will be substantively determined. As either party can appeal, allowed and dismissed at the Tribunal do not equate to the grant or refusal of asylum.
	In 2002, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal substantively determined 5,565 asylum appeals. The information requested is contained in the table below and is taken from the published Home Office asylum statistics. These figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five. Certain elements of information relating to remitted appeals are not available and this is indicated where appropriate:
	
		Appeals
		
			 Tribunal outcome Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Remitted 
		
		
			 Total 620 2,015 225 2,700 
			 Proportion by asylum claimant 410 1,880 210 (31) 
			 Proportion by Home Office 215 130 15 (31) 
		
	
	(31) Not available.

Late Fine Payments

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has to impose automatic sentences on those who are overdue in paying fines by a set period;
	(2)  what plans he has to impose automatic sentences on those who persistently fail to pay fines imposed by magistrates courts.

Christopher Leslie: There are no automatic sentences for fines. However the Courts Act, 2003 provides a number of new arrangements to facilitate the enforcement of fines, including mandatory automatic attachment of earnings orders if the defendant is in employment, or deductions from social security benefits if they are not working which will be applied upon first default. The Act introduces fines officers (who will have delegated powers), an automatic increase (to a maximum 50 per cent. of the fine) for continued non-payment of the fine, and a range of new sanctions as further steps for non-payment. These include clamping the defaulter's car and registration of the fine in a new combined register of judgments and fines. There will also be new offences for not providing means information or for providing false information to the court or fines officer. The increase and new sanctions will be piloted in six local pilot areas in a phased rollout from 23 February 2004. The new mandatory application of the Attachment of Earnings Orders and Deductions from Benefits will be piloted nationwide, together with the rollout of the new offences for non-provision of means information from 5 April 2004. Where the court is satisfied that an offender is genuinely unable to pay a fine, schedule 6 of the Courts Act introduces the alternative new sentence of fines payment work, where an offender can work off the value of the fine through unpaid work. This new provision will also be piloted in selected local pilot areas from 5 April 2004.
	Persistent offenders fined in the new fines collection scheme provided by schedule 5 of the Courts Act, 2003 will be deemed existing defaulters (defined in paragraph 3 of schedule 5) if they have already defaulted on previous fines payments. They will be subject to automatic mandatory attachment of earnings orders (if they are employed) or deductions from benefits (if they are in receipt of benefits) upon conviction. If they default on the current fine as well, they will be subject to an increase (up to a maximum of 50 per cent.) of the fine which will only be disapplied if they stick to the required payment terms for the life of the fine. These defaulters will then be subject to the same range of further steps as the new defaulters in question (1) above, with the ultimate threat of imprisonment for wilful non-payment of the fine.

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether the Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries the Department has outsourced these jobs; how much the Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Christopher Leslie: My Department has a number of contracts for the provision of outsourced IT and call centre services, none of which is based or supported offshore.
	No money has been spent in the last two years on outsourcing IT systems to offshore companies, and no money has been budgeted for this purpose in the next two years.
	My Department will keep the position under review, in the light of any emerging Government policy, as part of its overall aim to ensure that its procurement activities are based on obtaining best value for money.

Video Equipment

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many complaints have been received from (a) judges, (b) barristers and (c) parties to a case about the quality of video equipment and its impact on the quality of evidence in a case;
	(2)  what action is taken in the event that a judge raises concerns that the quality of video equipment is impacting on the balance of relative quality of evidence on a recurring basis within courtrooms;
	(3)  what evidence the Department has received that poor video links are affecting the quality of prosecution evidence.

Christopher Leslie: My Department does not specifically monitor or record complaints about video playback or video link equipment. My Department has received no formal complaints to date about the quality of the equipment. Maintenance contracts are in place with the suppliers to provide after installation support should any difficulties with the equipment be encountered. Any complaints or difficulties over the quality of the equipment will be referred by the court to the suppliers.

Video Equipment

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what system of monitoring is in place for parties in a case to report concerns about the quality of video equipment provided to courts.

Christopher Leslie: A Judicial Advisory Group, comprising judiciary from the Crown court, magistrates courts, county courts and tribunals, has been established to review and provide feedback on courtroom technology. This group meets on a regular basis and represents the views of the judiciary on matters such as video equipment.
	The legal profession and members of the public can also use the complaints and customer service procedures, which are publicised at each court.

Video Equipment

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what quality criteria video equipment is chosen for use in cases which involve vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.

Christopher Leslie: The Judicial Advisory Group has been consulted about the specification for video equipment installed in Crown court centres. The Department is working with other Criminal Justice organisations to develop a standard for visual recording and playback across the Criminal Justice system. The standard is due to be published at the end of January 2004.

Video Equipment

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how the video equipment selected for pre-trial hearings differs from that selected for criminal trials; and what criteria are used for this selection.

Christopher Leslie: The video equipment installed in 30 Crown court sites during 2003 can be used for pre-trial hearings and during criminal trials.

Voter Registration

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are taken to ensure that only bona fide constituents are registered on the electoral roll.

Christopher Leslie: Applications for registration are made to individual Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), appointed by local authorities, who are responsible for compiling the electoral register as accurately as possible. The annual canvass form which is sent to all households provides information about who is eligible to register. An ERO may require a person applying to register to give additional information if they are in doubt as to whether that person is eligible to be registered. It is an offence under the Representation of the People Act 1983 to fail to comply with a request for information from an ERO, or to provide false or inaccurate information to a registration officer. The electoral register is available for public inspection which enables checks to be made that only eligible electors are on the register.

HEALTH

Acute Hospital Trusts

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital trusts suspend out-patient waiting lists at less than 21 weeks.

John Hutton: This information is not available.

Ambulance Service (Radio Network)

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the competition for a new national radio network for the ambulance service.

Rosie Winterton: An Official Journal of the European Commission Notice, issued in June 2002, invited suppliers to express an interest to provide a new digital radio network and associated hardware. This was separated into four lots, which together would provide the complete new service for the ambulance service.
	18 expressions of interest were received. Following a short evaluation, eight were invited to respond to an output based specification. Following this exercise, four responses were received, one of which dropped out soon after. From the remaining three, only one supplier was able to provide Lot 1 (digital infrastructure), while all three were able to provide Lot 2 (Fixed and Hand Portable Radios), Lot 3 (Control Room Dispatcher Equipment) and Lot 4 (Total Integration of all Lots at Ambulance Trusts).

Ambulance Service (Radio Network)

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Government will ensure that usable spectrum is available to bidders competing to provide a new national radio network for the ambulance service.

Rosie Winterton: The Radiocommunications Agency (RA), as the spectrum manager for public safety spectrum, has been working hard to meet ever increasing demands placed on the finite spectrum resource.
	The radio spectrum available to the emergency services was a matter for the Public Safety Spectrum Policy Group (PSSPG).
	The PSSPG published guidance in order to assist interested parties in identifying available public safety spectrum and advising as to other issues that should be taken into account. This was the case with the Ambulance Service procurement exercise. It is recognised that only the 380385 MHz and 390395 MHz spectrum is in the harmonised format for digital technologies and all of this is required in spectrum 'hot spots' to meet the existing airwave requirement. While spectrum in this band is available on a carefully co-ordinated regional basis, it was considered that the capacity to meet a second national network that can be planned and protected to meet the exacting requirements of public safety did not exist.

Antibiotics

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what English acute NHS hospitals do not have antibiotic pharmacists in post.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Autism

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of autism in children who were vaccinated with the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (a) before attaining the age of three and (b) after attaining the age of three.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 5 January 2004
	In the last few years a number of epidemiological studies have examined the postulated link between MMR and autism and have found no association. Some of these studies (Taylor et al, 1999; Farrington et al, 2001; Madsen et al, 2003, Jick  Kaye, 2003) have specifically looked at rates of autism in populations who have had MMR and populations who have not had MMR. These studies did not find an increased reported rate of autism in MMR immunised children when compared with children who had not had MMR. Moreover, the recent study by Farrington et al, 2001 showed no temporal association between MMR and onset of autism at any time following MMR.
	References:
	Jick H.  Kaye JA. Special Article: Epidemiology and Possible Causes of Autism. Pharmacotherapy 2003; 23:15241530.
	Taylor B, Miller , et al. Autism and measles, mumps and rubella: no epidemiotogical evidence for a causal association. The Lancet 1999; 353:20269.
	Farrington CP, Miller E, Taylor B. MMR and autism: further evidence against a causal association. Vaccine 2001; 9:363265.
	Madsen KM, Hivid A, et al. A population-based study of measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347:14771482.

Caesarean Births

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of births were by caesarean section in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the percentage was (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years ago.

Stephen Ladyman: The percentage of deliveries by caesarean section in the latest period for which figures are available and percentages for five, 10 and 15 years ago may be found in Table 3 of NHS Maternity Statistics, England: 200102 which can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0309.htm. A copy of the bulletin is also available in the Library.

Care Fees

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to monitor the fee levels offered by local authorities to finance care.

Stephen Ladyman: Central Government do not themselves routinely monitor the fee levels offered by councils. It is for local councils to develop an understanding of their local market and set fees accordingly. An annual analysis of fee levels is conducted by Laing and Buisson, independent consultants working in the care sector.

Chest Pain Clinics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for patients to be seen for the first diagnosis at chest pain clinics after referral by a general practitioner were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: Roll out of rapid access chest pain clinics started in 2000 and national coverage was achieved in 2003. Monitoring of performance began in March 2001, when 75 per cent. of patients were seen within 14 days of referral. The most recent data, for August 2003, showed 86 per cent. of patients seen within 14 days.

Terminal Illnesses (Children)

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to ensure that there are sufficient (a) palliative care and (b) hospice beds available for children with life-shortening illnesses.

Stephen Ladyman: Funding for these services is available from primary care trusts, which are responsible for ensuring the level of health care provision required by their local population. Local authorities also fund services for disabled children. In addition, the New Opportunities Fund has provided 48 million over three years to over 130 projects in support of children with life-shortening illness and their families, and to develop more options for care. The national service framework for children, which is to be published later this year, will also address services for children with severe disability and illness.

Correspondence

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the correspondence to his Department containing the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust's Legacy Project study.

Stephen Ladyman: A reply was sent to Mr. Colin Parry on 14 January 2004.

Correspondence

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Pensions Agency will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Wrexham of 7 October 2003 relating to Mrs. Margaret Bryden (ref SD 40/080674/9387).

John Hutton: I understand that the NHS Pensions Agency replied to the hon. Member's letter on 9 January.

Dentistry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average starting salary of a dentist leaving training and going into (a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice was in 2003;
	(2)  what proportion of dentists, after training, went into (a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice in 2003.

Rosie Winterton: Newly qualified dentists who wish to work in the national health service general dental services are first required to undergo one year's vocational training. The Department does not collect information on the proportion of dentists who go into NHS or private practice after training. There are relatively few dentists who do all of their dental work privately. The Office of Fair Trading's report, The Private Dentistry Market in the U.K. stated that about 210 dental practises are totally private, out of 11,000 dental practises. Currently the starting salary for a vocational trainee dentist is 25,776 per annum.

Dentistry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists left training in England in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The available information, for the numbers of undergraduates in the United Kingdom admitted to dental schools and of those obtaining their first qualification, for the period 199798 to 200102, is shown in the table.
	
		UK dental schools intake and number obtaining first qualification
		
			 Academic year 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Intake 898 868 883 920 922 
			 Number obtaining first qualification 768 782 808 815 800 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education funding Council for England, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Departmental Staff Absence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days have been lost to sickness absence, expressed as days per year per full-time employee, in the Department of Health in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			 1 January to 31 December Total number of days lostto sickness absence 
		
		
			 2000 7,041 
			 2001 6,939 
			 2002 7,856 
		
	
	Source:
	Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service (Year 2000 chart 4.1, Year 2001, chart 9 and Year 2002, chart 9).

Domiciliary Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) people and (b) households received domiciliary care in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what proportion of elderly households received (a) home care and (b) home help services in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the number and percentage of households in England receiving home help or home care from 1993 to 2002 is shown in the table.
	
		Number and percentage of households receiving home help or home care from 19932002
		
			 England Survey weekin September Rounded numbers andpercentages 
			  65 and over(33) Total all ages 
			  Including double counting(34) Including double counting(34) Excluding double counting(34) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Number of households 
			 1993 463,200 514,600 (32) 
			 1994 453.100 538,900 (32) 
			 1995 451,300 513,600 (32) 
			 1996 427,000 491,100 (32) 
			 1997 410,400 479,100 (32) 
			 1998 368,500 447,200 (32) 
			 1999 (32) 421,000 (32) 
			 2000 (32) 415,800 398,100 
			 2001 (32) 399,900 381,700 
			 2002 (32) 384,000 366,800 
			  Percentage(35) of households (percentage) 
			 1993 9.1 2.7 (32) 
			 1994 8.9 2.9 (32) 
			 1995 8.9 2.7 (32) 
			 1996 8.4 2.6 (32) 
			 1997 8.1 2.6 (32) 
			 1998 7.2 2.4 (32) 
			 1999 (32) 2.2 (32) 
			 2000 (32) 2.2 2.1 
			 2001 (32) 2.0 1.9 
			 2002 (32) 1.9 1.8 
		
	
	(32)Data not available
	(33)Based on the age of the oldest client in the household.
	(34)Double counting occurs when a household receives home care directly from the council and through an independent provider.
	(35)For 1993 to 2000, the total number of households is based on the 1991 census; the 2001 census is the basis for 2001 and 2002.
	Source
	HH1, Census 19912001
	The number of contact hours has grown 67 per cent. between 1993 and 2002 at the same time as the number of households receiving home help or home care has fallen. This reflects a trend towards greater intensity and specialist skills in the services provided by home care. At the same time, broader community based services, which help older people and other adults to live independently in their own homes were provided for 1.4 million people in 200203; compared with 1.33 million people in 200001. Community based services include day care, meals, respite care, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment, as well as home care.

Domiciliary Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications made by domiciliary care providers for registration with the National Care Standards Commission have been (a) rejected and (b) provided with action plans.

Stephen Ladyman: As at the end of November 2003, the latest date for which information is available, no applications made by domiciliary care providers had been rejected and two applications had been registered with conditions.

Domiciliary Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary care providers applied for registration with the National Care Standards Commission in each month since March 2003, broken down by region.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Region March April May June July August September October November Total 
		
		
			 East Midlands 61 98 15 8 4 3 6 16 23 234 
			 Eastern 124 99 13 5 4 10 10 9 10 284 
			 London 176 206 28 26 21 16 140 9 24 516 
			 North east 115 27 13 8 8 8 7 5 5 196 
			 North west 123 263 38 29 46 7 12 13 16 547 
			 South east 237 134 21 12 47 23 10 6 10 500 
			 South west 104 213 13 10 13 8 17 7 10 395 
			 West Midlands 134 198 17 12 12 23 8 9 3 416 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 130 64 11 12 8 12 9 8 6 260 
			 Total 1,204 1,302 169 122 163 110 89 82 107 3,348

Environmental Radiation Report

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) is currently preparing several reports on different topics. COMARE has already published seven reports. Its eighth report is expected to be published in early March of this year.

Gatwick Airport

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asylum seekers have arrived at Gatwick airport in each of the last three years claiming to be minors and without identity documents.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on the number of asylum seekers without documentation claiming to be minors that arrive at specific ports of entry are not recorded and collated centrally. This information could therefore be obtained only from individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Information on asylum statistics is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

GP Referrals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of cases seen in NHS walk-in centres resulted in referral to the general practitioner with whom the patient is registered in the last year for which figures are available.

John Hutton: These data are not routinely collected or held centrally. The evaluation of national health service walk-in centres published by the University of Bristol in July 2002, and available at www.epi.bris.ac.uk/wic, suggested that some 13 per cent., of consultations resulted in a referral to a general practitioner. In part to address this, a growing number of NHS walk-in centres now offer access to a general practitioner, as well as the established service offered by nurses.

Infectious Diseases

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) consultants and (b) trainees in infectious diseases there were in the NHS in England in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants and doctors in training with a specialty in infectious diseases; September 1990-June 2003 -- England(36)Number (headcount)
		
			  Consultant Registrar Group Senior House Officer House Officer 
		
		
			 2003 (June) 107 (37) (37) (37) 
			 2002 95 42 58 21 
			 2001 88 58 61 6 
			 2000 88 53 44 8 
			 1999 69 45 43 6 
			 1998 73 35 41 9 
			 1997 73 37 61 8 
			 1996 65 32 40 10 
			 1995 69 35 38 6 
			 1994 55 31 31 7 
			 1993 48 29 36 3 
			 1992 39 21 40 2 
			 1991 31 28 35 2 
			 1990 38 20 28 1 
		
	
	(36) All data as at 30 September except for 2003, where data as at 30 June.
	(37) Data not available.
	Note:
	Trainees are referred to as doctors in training.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	Consultant numbers have increased by 182 per cent. between September 1990 and June 2003.

Information Campaigns and Advertising

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for his Department in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the expenditure on major information campaigns and advertising commissioned by the Department's communications directorate for the financial years 199697 to 200203. The figures include the costs of publishing, television, radio, poster, newspaper and magazine advertising, and campaigns on subjects such as sexual health, immunisation, staff recruitment, TB awareness, mental health and blood donation.
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Total campaign expenditure Advertising expenditure 
		
		
			 199697 15.13 2.50 
			 199798 6.63 2.04 
			 199899 22.96 8.53 
			 19992000 35.97 15.17 
			 200001 25.32 20.80 
			 200102(38) 37.23 20.41 
			 200203(38) 34.85 23.13 
		
	
	(38) These figures include Health Promotion England publicity and advertising when it became part of the Department.

Key Worker Housing

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on key worker housing and the land required to provide health services for key workers.

John Hutton: Discussions are currently taking place with officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the requirements of the national health service in respect of affordable housing and the NHS contribution to the provision of key worker accommodation. The Department of Health and NHS Estates have a major programme in place to support key workers. The NHS Plan target of 2,000 extra rental units has been exceeded. By March 2004, around 5,000 NHS staff will have had the opportunity to gain a foothold on the property ladder by way of assistance under the Government's Starter Home Initiative Scheme.

Long-term Care

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has reviewed his policy in the light of the Health Service Ombudsman's report on long-term care.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is satisfied with the existing policy on national health service fully funded continuing care, but wants to ensure that policy is correctly implemented. As a result, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) have reviewed their eligibility criteria and an independent survey has been commissioned to examine SHAs' progress on all aspects of continuing care provision. Forthcoming Directions will introduce a legal framework for assessment for NHS fully funded continuing care.

Management Consultants

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The cost to the Department of using management consultants in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Cost ( million) 
		
		
			 199899 7.3 
			 19902000 8.1 
			 200001 6.5 
			 200102 6.8 
			 200203 7.2

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of mothers have access to a midwifery-led maternity unit.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Memory Clinics

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a first appointment at a memory clinic from the time of recommendation by a consultant was in (a) England and (b) Dorset in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Incapacity Bill

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a patient's wishes in the form of an advance directive will be included on the health space of an electronic patient record following legislation in the Mental Incapacity Bill.

John Hutton: The national health service care records service (CRS) includes functionality for recording patient preferences, such as advanced directives. The specification included the requirement to ensure that the existence of patient preferences (including advance directives, for example, a living will or a religious requirement that blood transfusions are not to be given) shall be recorded and displayed, and the contractor shall ensure that clinicians are:
	alerted to the existence of a patient preference;
	advised to ask the patient to confirm its validity; and
	advised to record the patient's confirmation of its validity.
	Patient preferences can therefore be captured at the point of care on the relevant system. The patient will be prompted at the point of care to confirm that the advanced directive is still to be enforcedthis is to avoid an out-dated statement of patient preferences being enforced (for example, if a patient changes his or her mind).
	The existence of the NHS CRS in no way prejudices a patient's rights under existing or proposed legislation.

Microbiology

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many consultant microbiologist vacancies there were in the NHS in England on the last date for which figures are available, broken down by region;
	(2)  how many new posts in medical microbiology have been created in the NHS in the past 10 years, broken down by region;
	(3)  how many medical microbiology training posts there were in the NHS in England in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: Vacancy data is collected by the Department of Health as three-month vacancies as at 31 March each year. These are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more.
	Information showing the number of three-month microbiology and virology consultant vacancies as at 31 March 2003 in England, by strategic health authority has been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of new posts in microbiology and virology. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. The census is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in the table shows the net increase in the number of staff in microbiology and virology since 1992.
	Due to the variation in regional boundaries over the stated time period, between 1992 and 1997, a breakdown by national health service regional office has also been placed in the Library. Between 1998 and 2002, data is shown by government office regions.
	Between 1997 and 2002, staff increased by 22 per cent.
	The table shows the number of medical microbiology and virology training posts in England since 1990.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Doctors in training with a specialty in medical microbiology and virology; 19902002England, as at 30 September -- Number (headcount)
		
			  All training grades of which: Registrar Senior House Officer House Officer 
		
		
			 2002 179 162 17  
			 2001 156 143 13  
			 2000 141 121 20  
			 1999 142 131 11  
			 1998 136 125 11  
			 1997 139 125 14  
			 1996 134 124 10  
			 1995 159 145 14  
			 1994 189 176 13  
			 1993 182 163 18 1 
			 1992 173 159 14  
			 1991 191 175 16  
			 1990 163 146 17  
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

NHS Estates

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what revaluations of the sites involved in the NHS Estates surplus property disposals have been carried out in the last six months; and when.

John Hutton: A due diligence exercise, using its own independent valuers, has been undertaken by the preferred partner.

NHS Trusts (Mergers)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) hospital trusts, (b) primary care trusts, (c) mental health trusts and (d) ambulance trusts have merged in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: The number of trusts involved in mergers with similar trusts to form the same type of trust is shown in the table. The distinction between 'hospital trusts' and 'mental health trusts' is not straightforward owing to a number of trusts providing a range of services.
	
		
			  Ambulance NHS trusts Other NHS trusts Primary care trusts 
		
		
			 199798 0 8 n/a 
			 199899 0 39 n/a 
			 19992000 8 40 n/a 
			 200001 0 22 n/a 
			 200102 0 40 0 
			 200203 0 36 2

North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken following the Griffiths report into the research framework at North Staffordshire hospital NHS Trust.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department takes very seriously the points made in the report about the importance of public safety, and of protecting children. The Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and the Welsh Assembly Government published Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced in August 2002. Paragraphs 6.466.51 provide guidance on the use of covert video surveillance and references the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000.
	This document was in response to the recommendation made within the Griffiths report to develop guidelines to assist the identification of children who have had illnesses feigned or induced by a carer within the framework of Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999), the Government's inter-agency guidance on child protection. It was the subject of public consultation prior to being published in 2002.
	We have also taken a number of steps to strengthen research and clinical governance systems, not necessarily as a direct result of the findings of the Griffiths report. For example:
	We have established the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to focus our efforts to improve patient safety in the national health service and to run a new national reporting and learning system for patient safety incidents. The reporting system will be implemented across the NHS during 2004.
	NHS staff will be able to report adverse incidents and near misses affecting NHS patient care to the NPSA, so that patterns and trends can be identified and lessons learnt in one part of the NHS can be properly shared with the whole of the health service.
	The NHS Plan set out a review of consent procedures to ensure that good practice in seeking consent for both treatment and research is in place throughout the NHS. In November 2001, The Good Practice in Consent Implementation Guide: Consent to Examination or Treatment, was published, containing a model consent policy and consent forms.
	In the summer of 2000, the Department set up the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees to improve the support provided for multi centre research ethics and local research ethics committees.
	The Department published the Research Governance Framework in March 2001, aimed at continuous improvements and the reduction of unacceptable variations in research practice across health and social care. The Department has been monitoring NHS trusts' compliance with the framework since its publication.
	In its 200203 annual research and development report, North Staffordshire hospitals reported satisfactorily on compliance with the research governance framework targets for March 2003 and that it was either already compliant or on target with the research governance framework targets for March 2004. Actual compliance with the March 2004 targets will be assessed in the 200304 annual research and development report.
	The Department has commissioned a substantial audit of the use of continuous negative extrathoracic pressure at the University hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust (formerly North Staffordshire hospital NHS Trust). This is still on-going. The results will be published when the audit is completed.

Nurses

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) district nurses, (b) community nurses and (c) midwives there were in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified community nursing by each specified group in England, the North West regional office area, Cheshire and Merseyside and the St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority area as at 30 September each specified year -- Headcount
		
			  England North West(39) Cheshire and Merseyside(40) St. Helens and Knowsley HA(41) 
		
		
			 1992 
			 Community nursing 32,797 (42) (42) 229 
			 District nurses 11,013 (42) (42) 54 
			 Midwives 29,553 (42) (42) 163 
			  
			 1993 
			 Community nursing 33,384 (42) (42) 234 
			 District nurses 10,888 (42) (42) 52 
			 Midwives 29,439 (42) (42) 151 
			  
			 1994 
			 Community nursing 33,866 (42) (42) 216 
			 District nurses 10,015 (42) (42) 50 
			 Midwives 28,638 (42) (42) 144 
			  
			 1995 
			 Community nursing 40,566 (42) (42) 339 
			 District nurses 13,793 (42) (42) 78 
			 Midwives 22,022 (42) (42) 120 
			  
			 1996 
			 Community nursing 43,137 6,116 2,126 331 
			 District nurses 14,248 2,248 752 78 
			 Midwives 22,595 3,782 1,221 113 
			  
			 1997 
			 Community nursing 44,710 6,227 2,212 350 
			 District nurses 14,150 2,263 740 63 
			 Midwives 22,385 3,703 1,173 102 
			  
			 1998 
			 Community nursing 46,953 6,608 2,308 356 
			 District nurses 14,260 2,254 764 57 
			 Midwives 22,841 3,613 1,161 91 
			 Community nursing 48,828 7,043 2,270 328 
			  
			 1999 
			 Community nursing 48,828 7,043 2,270 328 
			 District nurses 14,258 2,175 701 51 
			 Midwives 22,799 3,633 1,289 118 
			  
			 2000 
			 Community nursing 50,877 7,308 2,483 337 
			 District nurses 14,452 2,150 696 51 
			 Midwives 22,572 3,553 1,309 119 
			  
			 2001 
			 Community nursing 55,275 8,180 2,878 380 
			 District nurses 13,510 1,963 673 49 
			 Midwives 23,075 3,674 1,265 121 
			  
			 2002 
			 Community nursing 57,975 9,161 3,181 350 
			 District nurses 12,184 2,126 727 62 
			 Midwives 23,249 3,833 1,276 118 
		
	
	(39) 19952001 data are based on Government Office Region areas, 2002 data is based on staffing figures for Q13 Greater Manchester SHA, Q14 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA, Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA
	(40) 19952001 figures are based on QDC Wirral HA:, QC7 Sefton HA, QC2 Liverpool HA , QC5 St. Helens and Knowsley HA, QCW South Cheshire, HA and QCV North Cheshire HA and for 2002 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA.
	(41) Figures for St. Helens and Knowsley HA for 2002 are based on RBN St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, 5J3 St. Helens PCT and 5J4 Knowsley PCT.
	(42) Accurate comparable information is not available.
	Notes:
	1. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.
	2. Community nursing includes nurses employed in community learning disabilities, community psychiatry and community services excluding district nurses.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

Procurement Outsourcing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's procurement policy is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity and the requirements of the European Union Treaty, including the principle of non-discrimination, the European Community procurement directives and the United Kingdom's international obligations.
	The Department has not outsourced any information technology or call centre services to offshore companies and there are no current plans to do so.

Smoking

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ban smoking in public places.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on Monday 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 209W.

Sperm Counts

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent research from the Aberdeen Fertility Centre on sperm counts since 1989; what assessment he has made of links between harmful man-made chemicals in the environment and reduced sperm counts; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

Melanie Johnson: The research from the Aberdeen Fertility Centre has not been peer-reviewed or published, and has not been assessed by the Department. The Global assessment of the state-of-the-science of endocrine disrupters, by the World Health Organization (WHO) International Programme on Chemical Safety concluded in August 2002 that,
	although an extensive review of the published data suggest that there could be temporal and geographical variation in human sperm production, it is not possible to conclude that the phenomenon is real and, if so, to what extent reductions in sperm count may affect fertility. The data should be interpreted with caution.
	The WHO assessment also concluded that,
	Analysis of the human data by itself, while generating concerns, has so far failed to provide firm evidence of direct causal associations between low-level (i.e., levels measured in the general population) exposure to chemicals.and adverse health outcomes.
	The Government research programme on trends in male reproductive health and the possible influences of occupational or environmental (or other) exposure to chemicals includes two studies on sperm counts. One is a study of Scottish male reproductive health (Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh). The other (which is co-funded with the European Chemical Industries Council) is a United Kingdom multi-centre study of occupational and environmental exposure to chemicals and male fertility (Universities of Manchester and Sheffield). The results will be published in due course.
	The Government's chemical strategy was published in December 1999 and is available at http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/ukstrategy.htm. Its main goals are to: phase out chemicals posing an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment as soon as possible; reduce as far as possible the risks posed by chemicals that are essential in our everyday lives, thus finding a balance between protecting health and the environment and retaining the socio-economic benefits that many chemicals provide; and make full information publicly available about the environmental and health risks of chemicals.

Waiting Times

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to monitor progress made by (a) strategic health authorities and (b) primary care trusts in reducing waiting times for diagnostic testing.

John Hutton: Waits for diagnostic services are not recorded nationally.
	The Government is committed to improving access to diagnostic services and the Department is working in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other stakeholders to secure a more responsive service. Each SHA is responsible for developing and implementing local improvement programmes for diagnostic services and to monitor progress against any locally agreed objectives.

Waiting Times

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the Changing Workforce Programme in redesigning the roles of diagnostic staff to reduce waiting times.

John Hutton: The Changing Workforce Programme is supporting the development of a number of roles designed to help the National Health Service provide speedier access to high quality services.
	In particular, the roles of assistant practitioner and advanced practitioner will help reduce waiting times for radiography services. An accelerated development programme is supporting the implementation of these roles across a network of hospital trusts. To date, 81 assistant practitioners in radiography are in training or scheduled to receive training in 2004, while 79 trainees are working towards advanced practitioner status.
	It is anticipated that the majority of plain film imaging will be performed by assistant practitioners under the supervision of qualified radiographers. This will release radiographers' time and allow them to focus on more complex issues, thus increasing service capacity. Once the assistant practitioners are fully trained, further data will be collected to evaluate the impact on waiting times and access to services.
	The appointment of advanced practitioners in diagnostic areas such as computer tomography imaging, trauma imaging and gastro-intestinal imaging, has already contributed to a reduction in waiting times. For example, at one site, the waiting time for a barium enema has been reduced from 30 weeks to one week since advanced practitioners have been performing this procedure.

Waiting Times

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait was for patients to be seen by their own general practitioner in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion were seen within 48 hours.

John Hutton: Data are collected on availability of access to primary medical services rather than actual waiting times. Information for November 2003 shows that 94 per cent. of the population was able to be offered an appointment to see a general practitioner within two working days.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programme protection strategy used by the Pension Service to prevent pension credit fraud since October 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: The programme protection strategy used to prevent loss in minimum income guarantee was reviewed to ensure its continued effectiveness once pension credit was introduced in October 2003.
	The review concluded that the strategy would continue to address those areas where fraud could occur in pension credit.
	The strategy and introduction of pension credit presents opportunities for improved protection at the gateway during the teleapplication process and for making use of all our contacts with customers to help them get their applications correct from the outset. The use of intelligent questioning, targeted visits and contacts with customers based on established risk, and effective internal and external data matching, all support the prevention of pension credit fraud.
	Positive efforts made in driving down the loss and the legislative changes introduced for pension credit have contributed towards the achievement of the Service Delivery Agreement target to reduce fraud and error overpayments to pensioners by 20 per cent. by March 2006.
	Measurement of fraud and error in pension credit commenced in October 2003 and we expect to publish results for the first full year's data in July 2005. In the interim we will be undertaking an early examination of cases found to be incorrect so that we can refine the programme protection strategy as necessary.

Casual Appointments

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees have been employed on 13-week casual appointments in his Department in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Department generally only employs people on casual appointments in order to fulfil a short term need. The information required is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Children Leaving Care

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of children who had been in local authority care were unemployed in the September after leaving school in each of the last five years.

Des Browne: The information requested is not available.

Council Tax

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of the new council tax benefit in the first full year of operation; and how it compares to the cost of the old council tax benefit, using the same methodology for the calculations.

Malcolm Wicks: Council tax benefit expenditure for 200304 is forecast to be 3.4 billion, and for 200405 to be 3.8 billion. However, on 15 December 2003, we announced reforms of council tax benefit, which included the abolition of restrictions for people living in band F, G and H properties. This is anticipated to take place from April 2004, with an expected additional cost of 6.5 million per annum benefiting 21,000 claimants.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department work in (a) the West Midlands and (b) north Staffordshire.

Maria Eagle: The number of staff working in the West Midlands and north Staffordshire is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  DWP Staff 
		
		
			 West Midlands 11,844 
			 North Staffordshire 726 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures show headcount and are consistent with Cabinet Office definitions other than for the inclusion of staff on paid maternity leave.
	2. Figures include temporary staff.

Euro

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Financial Secretary gave him on 12 January 2004, Official Report, columns 51617W.

Former Soviet Citizens

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether former Soviet citizens resident in this country qualify for the UK state pension; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK State Pension is payable generally to people who have paid or who are deemed to have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions while working and residing in this country.
	Therefore, former Soviet citizens can only start to acquire entitlement to a UK State Pension from the time they become resident in the UK.

Income Support Claimants

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will provide individuals claiming income support which is paid into their bank account with documentary proof of their receipt of benefit so that they can apply for discounts and reduced rates for leisure and other services.

Chris Pond: People receiving benefit that is paid into a bank account can use their initial award notifications as documentary proof of entitlement. Alternatively, customers can obtain evidence confirming their entitlement from the Department; for example, Jobcentre Plus provide customers with locally produced forms.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the local housing allowance will be extended from the nine Pathfinder authorities to all local authorities. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: There will be a comprehensive evaluation of local housing allowance Pathfinders including interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data. This is already underway.
	The findings of the evaluation will inform decisions on the national extension of the allowance. It is envisaged that local housing allowance will be extended to all local authorities in 2006.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the local housing allowance applies only to the de-regulated private sector. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: We hope to implement a flat rate housing benefit system in the social sector, similar to that anticipated in the private rented sector to enable people in that sector to benefit from the choice and flexibility that the reforms can provide. We aim to extend our reforms to the social rented sector as soon as rent restructuring and increased choice have created an improved market.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how the rent of those tenants whose rent is higher than the local housing allowance will be paid; [R]
	(2)  whether there will be a hardship payment to prevent the eviction of those tenants whose rent is higher than the new local housing allowance. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: Tenants whose rent is higher than their local housing allowance will be expected to make good the difference with their landlord. This is no different to what happens under existing rules. During the Pathfinder stage, no claimant will be worse off financially at the point of change as they will be covered by a form of transitional protection.
	There will not be a hardship payment to tenants whose rent is higher than their local housing allowance. Tenants will have the choice to shop around and look for a cheaper property in such circumstances.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the nine Pathfinder local authorities for local housing allowance will fully implement the new system. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: The nine Pathfinder authorities will implement the new housing allowance using one of two different approachesa big bang, or a phased. Under both approaches, all new claims made after the start date will go directly on to local housing allowance.
	Under the big bang approach, all existing claims will be converted to housing allowance on the authority's start date. However, the local authority can delay the change on payments to tenants for up to six months.
	Under the phased approach, exiting cases will be converted gradually over a 12 month period. Conversion will be triggered either by a change in the tenant's circumstances, or when a referral to the rent officer would have become due under the housing benefit system.
	The table shows the start date for each of the pilot authorities together with the approach they have chosen to adopt.
	
		
			 Local Authority Start date Approach 
		
		
			 Blackpool 17 November 2003 Phased  
			 Lewisham 1 December 2003 Phased  
			 Coventry 12 January 2004 Phased  
			 Teignbridge 12 January 2004 Phased 
			 Brighton 2 February 2004 Big Bang  
			 Edinburgh 9 February 2004 Big Bang  
			 NE Lincolnshire 9 February 2004 Big Bang 
			 Conwy 9 February 2004 Phased  
			 Leeds 9 February 2004 Phased

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the criteria used to set the local housing allowance in each area; [R]
	(2)  how often local housing allowance will be reviewed; and what methodology will be used to calculate the new level. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: Rent Officers in each Pathfinder area will look at a range of properties and rents in that area. Excluding exceptionally high and exceptionally low rents to avoid distortion, Rent Officers will identify the lowest and highest rents for a property type, add them together and divide by two. This will give the local housing allowance for that property type in that area.
	Rent Officers will review the local housing allowance levels on a monthly basis to ensure they remain accurate reflections of average rents in an area. However, an individual claimant's entitlement will only be reviewed annually or where there is a change of circumstances.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of local housing allowance in the first full year of operation; and what the equivalent cost of housing benefit would have been using the same methodology for the calculation. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: It is estimated that the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinders will cost an additional 20 million in their first year of full operation. Information on the forecasted equivalent cost of housing benefit is not available.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of local housing allowance on rent restructuring in the de-regulated private rental sector. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: The programme of rent restructuring applies only to the social housing sector and not to the de-regulated private sector.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how local housing allowance will be adjusted to take into account improvements that are carried out to an individual property. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: Local housing allowance will not depend on the individual rent or the type of property occupied by a claimant. It will be based on a standard amount for similarly suitable properties in that area for the size of the claimant's household.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the landlord will be able to apply to have local housing allowance paid directly to him in circumstances when the tenant is likely to abscond with the allowance. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: Landlords can make representations to receive direct payment if they believe that a tenant will not use their housing allowance to pay their rent. Landlords have the right of appeal if the authority decides to continue to make payment directly to tenants. Each of the Pathfinder authorities has held meetings with local landlords to explain how the housing allowance will work.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the change in the number of homes available to rent to those in receipt of local housing allowance and (b) the change in the number of empty homes as a result of the introduction of local housing allowance. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: We do not expect there to be any significant change in the number of homes made available to rent to those in receipt of local housing allowance, or an increase or decrease in the number of empty homes as a result of the introduction of the local housing allowance. However, both will be monitored as part of the comprehensive evaluation of the Pathfinders.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are being made in each of the Pathfinder local authority areas to house tenants who have to move from the private to the public sector because of the introduction of local housing allowance. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: The local housing allowance was launched in Blackpool on 17 November and Lewisham on 1 December 2003. Coventry and Teignbridge both introduced the housing allowance on 12 January this year. The remaining five authorities will be going live during February this year. So far there has been no evidence of tenants having to move from the private to public sector. However, we will monitor this as part of the comprehensive evaluation of local housing allowance Pathfinders, which will include interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data; the evaluation is already under way.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice the Department is offering those tenants who get into financial difficulties following the introduction of local housing allowance; and what the estimated cost is of the provision of that advice. [R]

Malcolm Wicks: Pathfinder authorities are being given an additional 540,000 towards the cost of providing financial management advice to claimants. Pathfinders are working directly or in co-operation with voluntary agencies, such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau, to provide advice on financial management. This is in addition to existing support mechanisms offered by welfare organisations, and loans and advice available from Jobcentre Plus.

Local Housing Allowance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how local housing allowance will be paid; and what arrangements will be made for those tenants who do not have a bank account;
	(2)  whether the tenant will be reimbursed for any overdraft fee paid as a result of late payment of local housing allowance into a bank account.

Malcolm Wicks: As for tenants who currently receive direct payment of housing benefit, payments of the local housing allowance will be made by cheque or a bank transfer. Pathfinder authorities will assist tenants with advice on how to obtain bank accounts.
	It is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide whether to reimburse for any overdraft fee incurred as a result of late payment of local housing allowance into a bank account. Local authorities will be able to process local housing allowance claims more quickly than current housing benefit claims, and our aim will be to prevent late payments.

New Deal

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of young people in (a) West Cumbria and (b) Copeland who have benefited from the New Deal; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The New Deal for Young People has been successful in helping over 460,000 young people into work, including 1,160 people in the Copeland constituency. Figures for West Cumbria are not available; however, 4,910 young people in the Jobcentre Plus Cumbria district have been helped into work by New Deal for Young People.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered the employer option under the New Deal for Young People in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnicity; how many people have entered the full-time education and training option under the New Deal for Young People in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnicity; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The information is in the tables.
	
		New Deal for Young People: Starts to employment option, broken down by ethnicity
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(39) 
		
		
			 White 12,580 16,650 13,950 10,650 10,130 5,190 
			 Black-Caribbean 220 330 250 160 180 70 
			 Black-African 90 110 100 80 80 50 
			 Black-Other 100 140 100 90 60 30 
			 Indian 130 230 170 150 120 60 
			 Pakistani 260 390 300 240 210 100 
			 Bangladeshi 80 120 90 100 80 30 
			 Chinese 10 20 20 10 10 10 
			 Other 170 230 200 170 180 120 
			 Prefer not to say 330 630 520 360 290 190 
			 Missing(40) 570 300 70 20 10 0 
		
	
	
		New Deal for Young People: Starts to full-time education and training option broken down by ethnicity
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(43) 
		
		
			 White 24,300 32,480 24,600 14,320 16,800 14,600 
			 Black-Caribbean 840 1,440 1,000 750 880 740 
			 Black-African 690 1,070 680 710 1,040 930 
			 Black-Other 420 610 430 330 360 290 
			 Indian 410 590 360 250 300 220 
			 Pakistani 890 1,200 1,000 800 880 720 
			 Bangladeshi 260 380 230 190 240 210 
			 Chinese 70 90 80 50 60 50 
			 Other 700 1,230 1,110 1,090 1,840 2,190 
			 Prefer not to say 810 1,730 1,250 820 750 730 
			 Missing(44) 90 60 20 10 0 0 
		
	
	(43) To September.
	(44) It has only been compulsory to record ethnicity on the Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System (LMS) since the spring of 2002, and some ethnicity codes were not recorded before then.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants on New Deal for Young People in the Chesterfield constituency have been placed on training courses for (a) up to one year and (b) over one year in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: In the 12 months to September 2003, 70 people started on the New Deal for Young People (NDYP) Full-Time Education and Training Option in Chesterfield.
	It is the policy of New Deal for Young People that nobody should be placed on an NDYP Full-Time Education and Training course for longer than a year.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants have joined the New Deal for Young People (a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times and (d) more than three times, broken down by ethnicity; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The information is in the following table:
	
		New Deal for Young People: Number of times people have joined the programme broken down by ethnicity
		
			 Ethnic group Once Twice Three times More than three 
		
		
			 White 485,660 119,620 28,400 5,000 
			 Black-Caribbean 13,380 5,060 1,470 260 
			 Black-African 12,270 2,980 690 130 
			 Black-Other 6,340 1,990 490 70 
			 Indian 11,970 2,190 450 60 
			 Pakistani 20,670 5,080 1,180 190 
			 Bangladeshi 7,440 1,610 330 50 
			 Chinese 1,420 230 40 10 
			 Other 25,120 4,440 990 170 
			 Prefer not to say 27,730 5,390 1,050 190 
			 Missing 6,590 70 10 0 
			 Total 618,620 148,640 35,080 6,110 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are to the end of September 2003.
	Source:
	DWP Information and Analysis Directorate.

Parliamentary Questions

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North East on 16 December 2003, reference 145191, which was transferred to his Department by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Chris Pond: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 13 January.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of expenditure on the (a) guarantee credit and (b) savings credit in (i) 200304, (ii) 200405 and (iii) 200506.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		 million
		
			  200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Guarantee credit 4,730 4,710 5,160 
			 Savings credit 350 1,020 1,000 
			 Total 5,080 5,720 6,160 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on latest published forecasts, published in the pre-Budget report on 10 December 2003.
	2. Figures for 200304 include expenditure on the minimum income guarantee, prior to the introduction of pension credit. Minimum income guarantee expenditure is treated as guarantee credit. The 200304 guarantee credit figure also includes child elements of the minimum income guarantee totalling 50 million. These payments were replaced by child tax credits at the same time as the introduction of pension credit.
	3. Note that until October 2004, new claimants will be able to claim payment for entitlement dating back to October 2003.
	4. Figures are rounded to nearest 10 million.
	5. Due to rounding, figures may not sum exactly to totals.

Pension Credit

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone inquiries on pension credit have been received in each of the last 12 months.

Malcolm Wicks: The table shows numbers of telephone calls received by the pension credit application line in each month since it became operational in April 2003. The application line primarily handles calls from customers about applying for pension credit, but also deals with other inquiry calls.
	
		Calls to pension credit application lineApril to December 2003
		
			 2003 Calls received 
		
		
			 April 20,810 
			 May 32,750 
			 June 60,240 
			 July 118,220 
			 August 181,860 
			 September 427,900 
			 October 482,780 
			 November 318,280 
			 December 193,900 
			 Total 1,836,740 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

Pension Credit

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the advertising budget is for the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The marketing campaign for pension credit has been designed to be flexible and the level of expenditure may change according to need. However, it is currently estimated that media costs, including direct mailing, television and press advertising, will be in the region of 12 to 17 million, excluding VAT, to October 2004.

Pension Credit

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland are receiving pension credit; what percentage this represents of those entitled to pension credit in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: At 31 December 2003 there were (a) 15,950 pensioner households (18,710 individuals) in Cumbria and (b) 2,300 pensioner households (2,739 individuals) in the Copeland constituency receiving pension credit. Information on numbers of households eligible for pension credit is not available at county or constituency level. However, the number of eligible households in the North West region is estimated to be 500,000. At 31 December 2003 there were 289,000 pensioner households (344,000 individuals) in the North West region receiving pension credit.

Pension Credit

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how often his Department revises the standard interest rate used to calculate the mortgage element included in the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The standard interest rate is based on the weighted average of the basic rates charged by the top building societies. A change is triggered whenever the average rate which is published monthly by the Office for National Statistics increases/decreases by 0.25 per cent. or more.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many whole-time equivalent staff were employed by the pension credit helpline in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pension Credit application line is resourced in line with forecast levels of activity. At 5 January the application line had approximately 1,300 whole-time equivalent staff handling customer contacts. This is expected to rise to approximately 1,400 whole-time equivalent staff by late March.

Pension Credit Helpline

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were received by the pension credit helpline in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pension Credit application line received approximately 193,900 calls in December 2003.

Pensions (Order Book Payments)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements were made for pensioners with order books whose pension fell due on Christmas Day 2003; and when they were able to receive that payment.

Chris Pond: The arrangements agreed with the Post Office for Christmas Day 2003, gave pensioners (women aged 60 and over, men aged 65 and over) the option of encashing the order book payments dated 25 December, up to a week early, (i.e., on or after 18 December). Post Office were open for normal business hours, up to and including 12.30 p.m. on 24 December.

Pensions (Warrington, North)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Warrington North have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded the pension credit; and what the average increase in income is per pensioner.

Malcolm Wicks: At 31 December 2003 there were 3,426 pensioner households (4,151 individuals) in the Warrington North constituency receiving pension credit. Information on the number of pension credit applications in individual constituencies is not available. The average weekly rate of pension credit awards in Warrington North is 41.19. Information on the average amount gained by pensioners in individual constituencies, since the introduction of pension credit, will become available following publication of the November 2003 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry on 17 March 2004.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on advertising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments.

Malcolm Wicks: In the region of 625,000 was spent on national and regional press and consumer magazine advertising throughout the 200304 Winter Fuel Payments campaign.
	A wide variety of publicity in other forums was also undertaken to support this advertising.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies his Department undertook to find the most effective way of informing people about their eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department uses a wide range of research on how to reach older people when formulating its communication strategies.
	We develop communications in partnership with representative groups such as Age Concern, National Pensioners Convention and Citizens Advice. We have built on our experiences from past years of paying Winter Fuel Payments using communication channels appropriate to our customers.

Winter Fuel Payments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Scotland are (a) eligible for the 300 winter fuel payment for the over eighties and (b) have received it this winter.

Malcolm Wicks: Analysis of payments made this winter is not yet available and therefore it is not possible to say how many payments were made to households including someone aged 80 or over. Nor have we data to establish how many households include someone who is aged 80 or over and would be eligible for a winter fuel payment of 300.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Thames Gateway

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress since the announcement of the Thames Gateway Communities plan; how much public money has been spent; how much private sector capital has been committed; how much land has been acquired; how much land will be acquired; and over what timescale.

Yvette Cooper: I am pleased to be able to report substantial progress in the Thames Gateway even since my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham announcement in July.
	Delivery is the key to the Thames Gateway. The new UDC for Thurrock is now established and Chair and Board appointed, consultation on the London UDC will end on 6 February and new partnership bodies for the other growth areas in the Gateway are now in place. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the new Gateway Office to be operational shortly.
	The Thames Gateway expenditure programme provides 446 million over the three years commencing 20034. Projects worth 330 million have been accepted in principle for funding, and some 50 million worth of projects have been formally approved. These range from land acquisitions in London's Lower Lea valley, to affordable housing schemes with the Housing Corporation, a new lifelong learning centre for Barking, University campus expansions at Southend and Medway, and environmental Green Grid initiatives across South Essex and North Kent. In addition to this, the Regional Development Agencies, English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and Highways Agency are also undertaking projects which make a major contribution to the Gateway, including Barking Reach, Chatham Maritime, A 13 improvements and anew Swale Crossing.
	Outline planning applications have been submitted for the key private sector developments at Stratford City and Ebbsfleet. These schemes alone represent private sector investment approaching 7 billion.
	The Strategic Rail Authority confirmed shortly before Christmas that it will be proceeding with plans for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail link as part of the new Integrated Kent Franchise, and more recently, my right hon. Friend Member for Edinburgh Central, has announced that he is offering financial support for the Thames Gateway Bridge, the proposed new river crossing in East London. Both are strategic projects which will strengthen the platform for new development, and will help to consolidate private sector confidence and involvement.
	There are no targets for land acquisition in the Gateway; the need for land assembly by the public sector will be determined by market strength and interest. To date, funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister budget for land acquisitions is being pursued for projects in the Lower Lea for new mixed-use development, and in Sheppy, to promote new housing.

Thames Gateway

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses have been built under plans for the development of the Thames Gateway communities; how many are social housing; how many houses are planned to be built; and how many will be social housing.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's policy for the development of sustainable communities in Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas was set out in Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen in July 2003. The most recent annual house building figures for local authority areas contained within the Thames Gateway are for the 200203 financial year. Local authorities and the national house building council report a total new build of 7,865 houses for this period, of which 1,077 are social housing. It should be noted that these figures are totals for local authorities in Thames Gateway, but that some local authority areas fall only partially within the designated Thames Gateway region.
	Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen set a target for the Thames Gateway of the development of 120,000 new homes over the period to 2016, which is 40,000 above current planning targets. Projects worth 300 million were approved in July as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's new Sustainable Communities funding package. These include funding for new affordable housing.
	The Government do not set annual targets centrally for local authorities on either affordable or social housing. Planning policies for affordable housing are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 3, Housing, and in Circular 6/98, Planning for Affordable Housing. They advise that where local planning authorities are able to demonstrate a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs, based on up-to-date surveys and other data, they should indicate in their local plan how many affordable homes need to be provided throughout the plan area, and set indicative targets for specific suitable sites (expressed either as numbers of homes or a percentage of the homes on the site). Local planning authorities should be monitoring their performance against their local plan policies and targets, but this information is not collected centrally.

Arms Length Management Organisations

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been set aside for the funding of newly constituted arms length management organisations for (a) 200304 and (b) 200405.

Yvette Cooper: Allocations for Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) are made in two-year tranches. 300 million has been allocated to eight local authorities setting up ALMOs under Round 1 of the programme for 200204, 383 million to 12 local authorities under Round 2 for 200305, and 360 million to 13 authorities under Round 3 for 200406. Allocations for Round 1 ALMOs for 200405 and later have yet to be decided.

Arms Length Management Organisations

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the results of the arms length management organisation ballots in those local authorities where votes have taken place this year.

Yvette Cooper: The results of ballots on Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) proposals held to date by local authorities awarded places on Round 3 of the ALMO programme in 2003, or applying for places on Round 4 in 2004, are tabled as follows. The results of ballots held under Rounds 1 and 2 were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Colchester on 15 September 2003, Official Report, column 602W.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Local authority Turnout In favour Not in favour 
		
		
			 ALMO Round 3
			 Camden 30 23 77 
			 High Peak 60 98 2 
			 Islington 27 85 15 
			 Sheffield: Brightside and Shiregreen 42 78 22 
			 Sheffield: Central Area 47 87 13 
			 South Lakeland 65 88 12 
			 
			 ALMO Round 4
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 40 81 19

Birmingham Urban Development Plan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Pedimore, Sutton Coldfield, has been removed as a major investment site for the West Midlands region in accordance with the independent Inspector's report into the Birmingham Urban Development Plan.

Yvette Cooper: Peddimore is identified as a Major Investment Site in my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands. The Proposed Changes were subject to a public consultation period, which closed on 12 December 2003.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering responses to the Proposed Changes. He is aware of the Inspector's report on the Birmingham Unitary Development Plan, and this will form part of his consideration. I cannot comment further on the Proposed Changes at this stage.

Birmingham Urban Development Plan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, has been removed as a major investment site for the West Midlands region in accordance with the Inspector's report into the Birmingham Urban Development Plan.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands were prepared before the UDP Inspector's report was published, and state:
	the principle of a premium employment site at Bassetts Pole is contained in the adopted Birmingham Unitary Development Plan, the alterations to the UDP have identified a specific site.
	The Proposed Changes were subject to a public consultation period, which closed on 12 December 2003.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering responses to the Proposed Changes. I cannot comment further on them at this stage.

Council Tax

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will raise the single person discount on council tax for single pensioners from 25 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change the single persons discount for pensioners. Not all pensioners are on a low income and council tax benefit exists to help those that are. Steps are being taken to ensure that those who are eligible, including many pensioners, do take up their entitlement. We are also removing the current restriction on council tax benefit for those living in band F, G and H homes from next April.

Council Tax

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reduce the number of older people receiving court summonses for non-payment of council tax, with particular reference to cases where they were entitled to full council tax benefit and the only reason for the arrears was the delay in processing their claim.

Nick Raynsford: This is a matter for each individual billing authority, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would expect authorities to take account of whether there was a likely entitlement to benefit in considering enforcement action.

Council Tax

Stephen Byers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of properties there are in each council tax band in each local authority area.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is available in the Library of the House.

Council Tax Disabled Bands

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the disabled band council tax reduction on current recipients; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Government has made no changes to the disabled band reduction. It is for each individual billing authority to decide whether a property qualifies for Disabled Band Reduction when deciding entitlement, taking into account case law. An appeal against a decision can be made to the Valuation Tribunal.

Council Tax Disabled Bands

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties are in receipt of council tax disabled band reductions.

Nick Raynsford: As at 3 November 2003 local authorities have reported that about 121,000 properties in England were subject to a reduction in their council tax band under the Council Tax (Reductions for Disabilities) Regulations 1992.

Dwellings (Conservation Areas)

Tony Colman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the recently announced proposals to free up land for development relate purely to councils blocking applications for housing schemes in conservation areas; and whether they apply to single dwelling developments in the curtilage of other single dwellings in conservation areas.

Yvette Cooper: The recent reports suggesting that my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, was proposing to remove the planning powers of local councils to prevent new building in the countryside are untrue. My right hon. Friend has made no such announcement, and has no such plans.
	This press speculation appears to have been based on the draft of a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS7), Sustainable Development in Rural Areas. The draft was published for public consultation in September 2003 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It sets out proposed national planning policies to deliver sustainable rural communities by focussing most new development on towns and villages, and through strict control over new development in the open countryside. Draft PPS7 proposes that local planning authorities should adopt criteria-based policies in development plans for the location and design of rural development, rather than rely on locally designated landscape protection areas. It would remain for local planning authorities in the first instance to determine planning applications, having regard to these and other relevant policies.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering the responses to the consultation draft. The views expressed will help inform the final version of PPS7.

Finance (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional money (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley have received from his Department in each of the last three years, expressed in (i) monetary and (ii) percentage terms, using 200001 as a baseline.

Nick Raynsford: Grant issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments for Lancashire and Chorley in the last four years is tabled. Monetary and percentage increases using 200001 as a baseline are also shown:
	
		
			   million Increase from 200001( million)(41) Percentage increase from 200001( million)(45) 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 200001 628.2   
			 200102 644.5 16.3 2.6 
			 200203 650.6 22.4 3.6 
			 200304 (a) 712.4 84.2 13.4 
			 Chorley
			 200001 5.7   
			 200102 5.9 0.2 3.7 
			 200203 6.1 0.4 7.6 
			 200304 (a) 6.7 1.0 17.9 
		
	
	(45) The figures have not been adjusted.
	Note
	Includes Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Non-Domestic Rates, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (from 200102 onwards).
	Source
	RS forms 200001 to 200203, RG forms 200102 to 200203, RA 200304 form and RA(SG) 200304 form.
	Budgeted figures.

Fire Sprinklers

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what measures he has taken to improve fire safety using fire sprinklers;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the merits of compulsory installation of fire sprinklers in (a) commercial properties and (b) leisure facilities.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is keen to improve fire safety by all reasonable means and sprinklers are part of a package of measures that can be used in buildings.
	Since 1992, guidance supporting the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations, which apply to most building work forming new and altered premises in England and Wales, has suggested the provision of sprinkler systems is necessary in commercial and leisure properties over certain area or height thresholds.
	This was expanded in 2000 when the guidance was revised to set a limit of 2000m 2 for the size of any fire compartment in a single storey retail building, beyond which a suitable sprinkler system should be provided. This applies to new and extended retail buildings.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also nearing the completion of a detailed study into the effectiveness of sprinkler systems in tackling fires in residential properties. The results of this work are being fed into the further development of national standards by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and are forming part of our considerations of the current review of the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations. The results of that work will shortly be publicly available enabling those involved with fire safety in buildings to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of residential sprinkler systems. During this review of the Building Regulations we will also be considering the role that sprinklers can play in all buildings and deciding whether the current thresholds in the guidance should be amended or indeed new ones introduced.
	In the meantime, our Community Fire Safety programme continues to inform people of the risks associated with fire and the measures which can mitigate against its occurrence and subsequent effect, such as the use of fire detection and alarms and sprinkler systems. This programme has already been effective in reducing fire deaths and injuries from accidental fires.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what quantity of land in the Thames Gateway needs to be re-allocated from employment uses to housing or mixed use to meet the Government's aspirations for delivering 120,000 additional houses by 2016.

Yvette Cooper: The figure of 120,000 is drawn from discussions on development capacity with local planning partners during the preparation of the Gateway initiative, and reflects both existing planning allocations for development and local perspectives on further capacity. Work is now under way with Regional Planning Bodies to agree the detailed distribution of this growth, and prepare for its incorporation into Regional Strategic Statements.
	Development in the Gateway focuses on its substantial reservoir of redundant and brownfield land, most of which will have originally been used historically for industrial and employment use. However, economic renewal is a parallel priority for the Gateway in order both to provide a stronger economic base for existing communities, and meet the employment needs of new residents. The area remains an important industrial and commercial location in the South East, and collectively the Gateway ports are the largest in the country. Retention and renewal of appropriate and good quality employment land to meet the needs of the local economy therefore remains important. The planning exercise now under way will therefore also be taking into account the appropriate future balance of housing and employment land.

Housing (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications for housing in Chorley have been approved in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The number of planning applications for housing in the borough of Chorley approved in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Applications approved 
		
		
			 1999 91 
			 2000 58 
			 2001 71 
			 2002 69 
			 2003 67 
			 Total (January 1999 to December 2003) 356

Housing (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land has been allocated for the next 10 years for new housing in Chorley.

Yvette Cooper: The adopted Chorley borough Local Plan Review allocates 100 hectares of land for housing for the period up to 2006. This figure excludes the former Royal Ordnance Factory site at Euxton, which is also expected to contribute 500 dwellings during the plan period, on the part of the site lying within Chorley borough.
	Upon commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, Chorley borough council will be required to prepare a Local Development Framework to replace the Local Plan Review. In doing so the council should have regard to the annualised rates of average housing provision set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the North West, as applied by the emerging Lancashire Structure Plan. That currently proposes an annual rate of housing provision for Chorley in the period 200616 of 210 dwellings per year, net of clearance.

Housing (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on affordable housing in North Yorkshire.

Yvette Cooper: In 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received correspondence from the hon. Member and from Mr. Peter Annison, Chair of the Richmondshire Local Strategic Partnership, about affordable housing in North Yorkshire. Affordable housing in North Yorkshire featured in comments on the draft regional housing strategy in Spring last year, and is an issue identified in the sub-region's local authorities' housing strategies. The subject also features in Government Office discussions with North Yorkshire housing authorities, and the Government Office has received representations about funding for a project developed by Esk Moors Action for the Elderly. The North Yorkshire Housing Forum has submitted to the Regional Housing Board three proposals for different types of affordable housing for funding through the Board's 'transformational proposals' commissioning strand, for schemes to start in 200506.

Housing Strategies

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on how older people are involved in planning for housing strategies; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned any research on the involvement of older people in planning for housing strategies. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will, however, be supporting the work of the Housing for Older People Development Group (HOPDev), which will be examining older people's involvement in housing strategies as part of its programme of work for the coming year.

Local Authority Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to ensure that council tenants are given information on the case for and against the large scale voluntary transfer of council housing proposed by North East Lincolnshire council.

Yvette Cooper: Tenants should be involved from the outset in the consideration of stock options and have a central role in deciding which option is pursued. To assist tenants in this the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects them to have access to good independent advice from the start.
	Where housing transfer is the chosen option, the local authority should ensure that the information provided to tenants during the consultation process gives a full, fair and balanced picture of the implications of the proposed transfer as compared with staying with the council, so they can demonstrate that tenants have been properly consulted and informed.

Local Authority Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he intends to ensure that his undertaking to London council tenants on 27 November 2003 regarding the information to be given to tenants about the implications of stock transfer or the creation of arm's length management organisations is implemented in the light of the decision by Mr. Justice Munby in case CO/6212/2003.

Yvette Cooper: The Communities Plan published in February 2003 made clear that council tenants must be fully informed and consulted at all stages in the process of appraising, choosing and implementing options for the future management and improvement of their homes. Tenants will have the support of Independent Tenant Advisers in this process. Effective tenant engagement is a key test for signing off the results of option appraisals and for giving approval for councils to implement these results. The information made available for tenants by their council and others at each stage should be sufficient to enable tenants to express an informed opinion.

Local Authority Housing

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses were sold in each year since 1980; and how many houses were left in local authority ownership each year.

Yvette Cooper: The figures available for England are tabled as follows:
	
		Thousand
		
			  Council house sales 
			  Right-to-Buy LSVT Other sales LA rented stock estimates(46) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 197980 n/a n/a 54 4,764 
			 198081 2 n/a 66 4,798 
			 198182 105 n/a 23 4,819 
			 198283 167 n/a 14 4,660 
			 198384 106 n/a 16 4,561 
			 198485 78 n/a 13 4,511 
			 198586 72 n/a 10 4,439 
			 198687 77 n/a 9 4,366 
			 198788 94 n/a 19 4,277 
			 198889 136 11 9 4,134 
			 198990 134 14 9 3,991 
			 199091 76 45 6 3,899 
			 199192 48 11 6 3,844 
			 199293 38 26 5 3,760 
			 199394 45 30 7 3,666 
			 199495 43 40 4 3,565 
			 199596 32 45 2 3,470 
			 199697 33 21 4 3,401 
			 199798 41 33 4 3,309 
			 199899 40 74 4 3,178 
			 19992000 54 95 3 3,012 
			 200001 52 132 1 2,812 
			 200102 52 35 1 2,708 
			 200203 63 166 1 2,457 
		
	
	(46) Up to 198889 stock data at 31 December, thereafter at 31 March.

Local Government (Employment)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change has been in the number of local government employees since 1997.

Phil Hope: Figures for Great Britain, which are available in an article published in 'Economic Trends' (September 2003), show that between 1997 and 2002 there was an increase of 148,000 in the total general local government employment category.

Local Government Finance

Michael Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what asssessment he has made of the report by Professors Blanchflower and Oswald on Calculating an Appropriate Regional Funding Adjustment for Worcestershire, commissioned by Worcestershire county council; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Government will carefully consider the points made in Worcestershire county council's response to the consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement, alongside all others, as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister takes the final decisions on the settlement.

Local Government Planning

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government will press local authorities reviewing the potential for re-allocating excess employment land to consider the option of withdrawing sites from their development plans, with particular reference to those which are identified as low priority for development according to the sequential approach set out in PPG3.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (PPG3), requires local planning authorities to review all their non-housing allocations, including those for employment, and consider whether some of this land might better be used for housing or mixed use developments.
	In July 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation document, Supporting the Delivery of New Housing. This proposes to add new policy to PPG3 requiring local planning authorities to consider applications for housing development favourably on allocated industrial and employment sites. It highlighted the need to review employment sites and to identify those which no longer need to be retained for employment uses. Such sites would then be de-allocated at the next review of the plan, and consideration given to whether the sites should be allocated for other uses. Whether such sites are suitable for housing will depend on how they perform against PPG3 policies, including the sequential approach.
	The consultation closed on 31 October 2003 and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the responses received. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish the final policy, alongside practice guidance to help local planning authorities in reviewing employment land allocations, in due course.

Local Government Planning

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the quantity of previously developed land that is (a) available for redevelopment and (b) likely to become available for redevelopment up to 2016.

Yvette Cooper: From the 2002 National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land, an estimated 66,000 hectares of previously developed land are available for development in England. This includes both vacant and derelict land and land currently in use with known potential for redevelopment. New sites amounted to 14 per cent. of the 2001 stock of previously developed land. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any forecasts of future flows of land likely to become available for redevelopment.

Mobile Phone Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Stewart report on mobile phone masts in relation to PPG8, with particular reference to the recommendations of the report on main beam transmissions next to sensitive sites.

Yvette Cooper: The Stewart report recommended that all telecommunications development be subject to the planning process in order to improve local consultation. On 22 August 2001, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below and for masts on buildings and structures so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission. The changes to the planning arrangements also underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college.
	The Stewart Report also recommended that an independent random, on-going, audit of base stations be carried out to ensure that exposure guidelines are not exceeded. Ofcom (formerly the Radiocommunications Agency) is undertaking the audit, which has been running since December 2000 and has focused on school sites. The results have shown emissions ranging between several hundred to many thousand times below the public exposure guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

Planning

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many, and what percentage of recommendations from inspectors called in dealing with (a) planning appeals and (b) applications he overturned in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: This information is only available for decisions taken since 1 April 2002 by the new Planning Central Casework Division (PCCD) established in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on that date to take over work previously done predominantly by Government Offices, Information on decisions administered by PCCD since April 2002 is tabled:
	
		
			 Year Total appeal decisions Inspector's recommendation overturned Total call in decisions Inspector's recommendation overturned 
		
		
			 20022003 124 5 (4%) 59 12 (20%) 
			 20032004(47) 179 16 (9%) 72 8 (11%) 
		
	
	(47) First three quarters
	In relation to decisions made before the setting up of PCCD, the available information (which does not distinguish between called in applications and appeals) is tabled:
	
		
			 Year Secretary of State decisions Inspector's Recommendation overturned 
		
		
			 19992000 184 13 (7%) 
			 200001 189 22 (12%) 
			 200102 180 13 (7%) 
			 200203(48) 64 17 (26%) 
			 200304(48) 5 2 (40%) 
		
	
	(48) First three quarters
	Comprehensive information is not held centrally for the period April 1997 to March 1999, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	1 These decisions are in respect of inquiries which closed before 1 April 2002.

Planning Guidance

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account planning authorities in England are required to take of (a) written departmental guidelines circulated to them and (b) ministerial speeches in Parliament.

Yvette Cooper: Written Departmental Guidance and Ministerial speeches in Parliament are capable of being material considerations which local planning authorities must take into account when exercising their planning powers (for both forward planning and development control purposes). Central Government policy may be communicated to local planning authorities in various ways (for example by written guidance or oral statements) and may be taken into account by a local planning authority, irrespective of the way in which it is communicated. The weight to be attached to it may vary, however, depending on how formally it is expressed.

Planning Guidance

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has provided to local authorities on the incorporation of estimates for climate change into the definition of floodplain for planning purposes.

Yvette Cooper: The flood zones in the risk-based sequential test in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 25 Development and flood risk, which was published in July 2001, are based on Environment Agency mapping of the risks at the time of map preparation. This does not include any allowance for climate change. However, local planning authorities and developers are advised to take account of climate change in assessing the risks from flooding. PPG 25 recommends a minimum standard of flood defence that takes account of the allowances for climate change contained in the Project appraisal guidance for flood and coastal defence, published by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1999.
	Climate change allowances have been re-examined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) following publication of new climate change scenarios in 2002. Further guidance was published by DEFRA in 2003, which does not differ in its essentials from that already cited in PPG 25.

Property Revaluations

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has commissioned on the impact upon pensioners of the revaluation of properties in England in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Government acknowledged the criticisms of council tax in the 2001 White Paper, Strong Local Leadership, Quality Public Services. Consequently the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has established the Balance of Funding review to consider possible reforms to the current arrangements. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned various research studies to inform the review including analysis of the potential impact of revaluation on different regions and groups of council tax payers. The review will be considering proposals for change in the course of the next few months.

Registered Social Landlords

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the registered social landlords under investigation by the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation is responsible for some 2,000 registered social landlords in England. To comply with the Corporation's Regulatory Code, all registered social landlords provide the Corporation with financial and regulatory information. The Corporation conducts a range of regulatory reviews as part of its routine regulatory exchanges. The Corporation has statutory powers to direct an inquiry into the affairs of a registered social landlord. There is currently only one such inquiry under way, into Solon Wandsworth Housing Association Ltd.

Registered Social Landlords

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from registered social landlords on allowing them to exceed the cap in relation to the rent increases set down in the Government's rent restructuring policy; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002. Since this time, we have received four written representations from registered social landlords (RSLs) seeking a revision to the cap on rents of properties with the highest capital values which is incorporated into our rent restructuring policy. The current cap in 200304 ranges from 87.30 for a bedsit to 102.70 for a property with four or more bedrooms. For the small number of properties affected by this safeguard, the maximum increase in future years is set at Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 1 per cent. a year.
	As set out in our initial policy, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently conducting a three-year review of the policy, with the aim of completing this in the spring.

Relationship Managers

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, which authorities rated as weak in 2002 are involved in the on-going discussions with his Department over arrangements to accept assistance from his Department on a voluntary basis.

Nick Raynsford: Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are discussing with Wolverhampton, Northamptonshire, Havering, Merton, Enfield, Milton Keynes and Nottingham, whether those councils would wish to develop their relationship with Government through a named official.

Relationship Managers

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what assessment was made of Trafford Metropolitan borough council's corporate capacity to improve; and what the outcome was of that assessment.

Nick Raynsford: The Audit Commission carried out a corporate assessment of Trafford Metropolitan borough council published as part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) of the authority in December 2002.
	The Audit Commission's corporate assessment team gave a rating for the council's overall ability to improve as two out of a possible four and their overall performance was assessed as 'weak'.
	Following the CPA assessment, the Audit Commission orchestrated an improvement planning process with the council, involving relevant representatives from government departments and inspectorates. This process established the priorities for improvement and agreed a co-ordinated and focused programme of follow up inspections based on the findings of the CPA assessment. Trafford Metropolitan borough council's priorities for improvement are set out in their Best Value Performance Plan, published in June 2003.

Relationship Managers

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what discussions have taken place with Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council following the comprehensive performance assessment; and whether he will appoint a relationship manager to improve Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council services.

Nick Raynsford: Since taking up his post in September 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Director of Local Government Practice in the North-West has met with the Chief Executive of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council on several occasions, as part of his broader brief. In particular, he has provided the council with advice on the availability of funding through the capacity building programme run jointly by the Government and the Local Government Association.
	Trafford have not requested that a Lead Official should be appointed.

Relationship Managers

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what criteria he used to distinguish between councils rated as weak in 2002 when considering the appointment of lead officials to work with councils.

Nick Raynsford: Following the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment announcements in December 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister appointed lead officials to engage directly to secure recovery in those authorities classified as 'poor' and those categorised as 'weak' with a corporate capacity score of one, indicating little scope for managing recovery.
	In addition, other councils classified as 'weak' can volunteer to develop their relationship with Government through a named official.

Sandwell MBC v. Perks

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties he estimates will be affected by the judgment in the High Court Case R (Sandwell MBC) v. Perks and the West Midlands (West) Valuation Tribunal (2003) EWH 1749 Admin; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Entitlement to disabled band reduction is a matter for individual billing authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister therefore has not estimated how many properties might be affected by this decision.

Sandwell MBC v. Perks

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make available supplementary funding to local authorities which incur expenditure as a consequence of the judgement in the High Court Case R (Sandwell MBC) v Perks and the West Midlands (West) Valuation Tribunal (2003) EWH 1749 Admin.

Nick Raynsford: No.

Social Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of new build is required to be social housing for (a) rent and (b) shared ownership.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not set annual targets centrally for local authorities on social housing.
	Planning policies for affordable housing are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 3, Housing, and in Circular 6/98, Planning for Affordable Housing. They advise that where local planning authorities are able to demonstrate a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs, based on up-to-date surveys and other data of local need, they should indicate in their local plan how many affordable homes need to be provided throughout the plan area, and set indicative targets for specific suitable sites (expressed either as numbers of homes or a percentage of the homes on the site).

Social Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses were sold in Chorley in the last five years; and how many properties remained in local authority ownership in each of those years.

Yvette Cooper: The figures reported by Chorley to the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Council house sales LA rented stock estimates at end of year 
		
		
			 199899 35 3,477 
			 19992000 44 3,437 
			 200001 41 3,393 
			 200102 52 3,367 
			 200203 95 3,271

Sustainable Communities

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress since the announcement of the (a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Stansted Corridor Sustainable Communities; how much public money has been spent; how much private sector capital has been committed; how much land has been acquired; how much land will be acquired; and over what timescale.

Yvette Cooper: There has been considerable progress in the growth areas since the announcement in July 2002Creating Sustainable Communities: Making it Happen: Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas.
	Partners are well advanced in developing the 88 million worth of projects approved in July as part of the Government's Sustainable Communities funding package and we are on target to meet the 21.5 million allocated in this year's programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's further announcement of 14 January 2004 allocated an additional 63 million to a further 27 projects. 11.5 million has been allocated to schemes which will deliver new and improved strategic green spaces in the growth areas, including a new regional park in the Nene Valley, and a significant expansion of the Forest of Marston Vale in Bedfordshire. Over 50 million has been awarded to 18 other projects to provide key transport and economic infrastructure including new bridges and roads to access sites for 6,850 homes that would otherwise be blocked.
	The vast majority of development within the housing growth areas will be undertaken by the private sector but detailed information on each investment is not collected. In addition there will be major investment programmes on commercial sitessuch as the 800 million programme for Central Milton Keynes, involving English Partnerships, Milton Keynes Council and a number of private investors. Many schemes funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are, however, designed to enable local partners to lever in specific private sector commitments to infrastructure by unblocking barriers to investment. In most cases negotiations are ongoing, but examples of match funding already committed include the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment of 10.6 million for road access to the Wellingborough East development site, which is matched pound for pound by Bovis Homes.
	There are no targets for land acquisition in the growth areas; the need for land assembly by the public sector will be determined on a case by case basis. Several of the projects for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is already providing funding will facilitate the assembly of parcels of land for public benefit, such as the provision of affordable housing and community facilities (for example in Harlow), or high quality green spaces within or around the growth areas, as in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The funding will also facilitate the remediation of heavily contaminated land and the preparation of sites for release to the private sector for development.

Sustainable Communities

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Government Departments are involved in plans for the development of the (a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Stansted Corridor Sustainable Communities; and what commitments they have made.

Yvette Cooper: The July StatementSustainable Communities: Making it Happen: Thames Gateway and the Growth Areasset out how growth area projects would be taken forward across Government, with schemes including transport, health, education, sports and green spaces. For example, transport commitments include the 1.6 billion announced by Alistair Darling in July, and most recently the Department for Transport's Local Transport Programme announcement of December 2003, which included schemes worth 221 million across the three growth areas.
	A wide range of public agencies are involved. Bringing more agencies together with local partners to look at strategic infrastructure issues is the purpose of the Inter Regional Board being established for the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area, which will hold its first meeting on 11 February 2004.

Unfit Housing

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance is available for repairing structurally unfit houses owned by the (a) elderly and (b) disabled; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities have wide ranging powers under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2004 to provide assistance for the repair, improvement or adaptation of any living accommodation in their area. Such assistance, which can be made available at the discretion of the authority, may be in any form, for example by way of a grant, loan or loan guarantee, and can be provided either directly by the council or through a third party. The Order provides that before using these powers the local authority must publish a policy setting out the range of assistance that they will make available.
	Funding for this assistance is available from an authority's single capital housing pot and in 200203 total local authority expenditure in England on housing renewal grants (excluding disabled facilities grant) was 259 million.

Water Supply

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional water supply infrastructure is likely to be required for the additional homes proposed for the Thames Gateway up to 2016.

Yvette Cooper: Each water supply company produces a water resources plan that looks forward 25 years. The companies update their plans annually, which are then reviewed by the Environment Agency for consistency with its national and regional water resources strategies. The companies serving the Thames Gateway need firm estimates of growth to enable them to identify new water supply and disposal infrastructure requirements and factor these in to their business plans. Companies are therefore working in close liaison with local and regional planners and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to establish both infrastructure requirements and the scope for achieving water efficiency savings in the new homes through sustainable development. A summary of their final investment plans will be available in late April, but these will cover investment required to meet the totality of demand forecast in their areas not just that which is within the Thames Gateway.

West Midlands Regional Planning

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish the final version of the West Midlands Regional Planning Guidance.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering responses to the public consultation on my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands. We hope to publish the final RPG in the spring this year.

Wychavon District Council

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what account he took, in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 200405, of cost pressures on the council flowing from (a) administering the new local plan, (b) implementing the law on high hedges, (c) administering the Supporting People programme, (d) deregulation of building control services, (e) ending of Market Towns Initiative funding, (f) ending of Local Government On-Line funding and (g) compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000;
	(2)  what account he took in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 200405, of cost pressures on the council flowing from (a) implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on council property, (b) compliance with new legislation on homelessness, (c) provision for migrant workers, (d) changes to insurance premiums, (e) audit and inspection fees, (f) implementation of new licensing arrangements, (g) provision of recycling and waste services and (h) increases in employer contributions to pension funds;
	(3)  what account he took, in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 200405, of cost pressures on the council flowing from (a) the requirement for more consultation with the community to improve local accountability and community leadership, (b) the administration of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, (c) further requirements for dealing with stray dogs, (d) administration of the standards regime for regulation of district and parish councils, (e) the need to have the financial capacity to improve following Comprehensive Performance Assessment inspection and (f) the requirement to develop a cultural strategy.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals for the funding of local authority revenue spending in 200405 take into account the cost pressures and new burdens on local government identified with the Local Government Association in the context of the Spending Review 2002, which set the spending plans up to 200506. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has added to those totals to reflect additional pressures and new burdens since the announcement of Spending Review 2002. Additionally, Wychavon District Council has received specific grants for certain items identified by the hon. Member, for example from the Waste Recycling Challenge Fund.
	The Government's proposals for 200405 provide for an increase in total general grant of 2.4 billion or 5.5 per cent. Wychavon District Council would receive an increase of 5.6 million or 4.2 per cent. on a like-for-like basis compared with 200304.
	Most Government funding to local authorities is paid through general grant and is for councils to allocate in line with their statutory duties, their priorities and the wishes of their electorate.